The role of HPV vaccination as a cancer prevention agent.

Abstract

e13566 Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted agent and has extensive association with many malignancies such as cervical, vaginal, vulvar, penile, and head and neck cancers. Vaccination helps prevent sexually transmitted diseases due to HPV. In addition, it provides protection against cancers caused by persistent, high-risk HPV infection in both male and female. Methods: Data collected from the medical records of patients diagnosed with anogenital, and head and neck cancers during 2017-2019 were studied retrospectively and the association of HPV infection was analyzed. Results: There were thirty-three cases of anogenital, and head and neck cancers diagnosed during the study period. The following were the occurrences: penile cancer 1, anal cancer 4, cervical/uterine/vaginal cancers 10, and head and neck cancer including tonsil, base of tongue, vocal cord, and glottis 18. HPV status was available in twenty-six (79%) patients. Fourteen patients were positive for high-risk 16/18 HPV strain, twelve were HPV negative, and HPV status was unknown for seven patients. Most of the patients were smokers and none of them had received HPV vaccination. The patients were treated appropriately with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Conclusions: Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection type 16/18 is the most common sexually transmitted infection associated with significant anogenital and head and neck cancers.Vaccinations protect against persistent, high-risk HPV infection that may lead to malignancies. However, the HPV vaccination initiation and completion rates are only 41.7% and 21.6% respectively in males, and 60% and 39.7% respectively in females. The lack of opportunity does not appear to be a major reason for this low coverage. Some of the barriers for low adoption of HPV vaccination were concern about vaccine safety (70%), lack of knowledge about HPV related diseases (56%), very young to vaccinate (56%), fear of riskier sexual behavior (56%), and reluctance as not being included in the required immunization schedule (71%). In addition, several people refused HPV vaccination due to misinformation in social media. The primary purpose of HPV vaccination is to help prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Further, such vaccination can also prevent several cancers caused by persistent infection. Therefore, HPV vaccination has the potential to eliminate such risk if enforced at a young age in school. The above study and data stress this role and the importance of public awareness of the HPV vaccine as a cancer prevention agent.