Updated · University of Minnesota Twin Cities · Aug 21
HPV Vaccine Cuts Head and Neck Cancer Risk 68% in Ages 9-26 Study
Updated
Updated · University of Minnesota Twin Cities · Aug 21
HPV Vaccine Cuts Head and Neck Cancer Risk 68% in Ages 9-26 Study
3 articles · Updated · University of Minnesota Twin Cities · Aug 21
Summary
A 1.4 million-record study across 66 U.S. healthcare organizations found HPV-vaccinated people ages 9 to 26 were 68% less likely to be diagnosed with head or neck cancer.
The strongest association appeared in oropharyngeal cancers, where vaccinated people were 91% less likely to be diagnosed; no statistically significant reduction was seen for those vaccinated at ages 27 to 45.
Only 40 head and neck cancers occurred in the HPV-vaccinated group versus 130 in the comparison group, leading outside researchers to caution that the exact size of the benefit remains uncertain.
Researchers followed patients for up to 13 years, but experts said longer follow-up and larger studies are needed because these cancers are usually diagnosed later in life, around age 64.
The findings add to growing evidence that HPV vaccination helps prevent cancers beyond cervical disease, as HPV now causes most oropharyngeal tumors and a large share of several other cancers.