News :: GLBT
Cervical Cancer Virus Linked to Oral Tumors in Menby Kilian MelloyWednesday Feb 6, 2008 A new study suggests that the same virus that has been linked with cervical cancer can affect men, too--as oral cancer.
An Associated Press story posted at PhysOrg.com Feb. 2 reports that a new study published in the Journal of Oncology indicates that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), viewed as the foremost cause of cervical cancer, can also cause oral cancer in men. The story notes that there is a vaccine for HPV, but that it is currently only administered to girls as a preventative measure.
However, the AP story reports, the vaccine’s maker, Merck & Co., intends to seek government approval to administer the vaccine to boys as well, in order to help reduce the risk of males transmitting HPV to females. Also, international research is being carried out to determine the effectiveness of the vaccine against genital warts, anal cancer, and penile cancer, according to Merck spokesperson Kelley Dougherty.
There are over 100 strains of the virus. About a third of those strains can be sexually transmitted and cause warts, but not all of those who pick up the virus will exhibit warts.
When a vaccine called Gardasil was proven effective in 2005 at preventing cervical cancer, there was a push to make the vaccination mandatory for girls. But social and religious conservatives voiced objections, saying that vaccinating girls against HPV could be construed as a promotion of sexual promiscuity.
The AP reported in a May, 2007 story that in a number of states, including Georgia, legislation to mandate vaccination was lobbied into defeat by religious and social conservatives.
Rick Perry, governor of Texas, issued an executive order to mandate vaccination of girls in the sixth grade, only for the state’s legislature to block the executive order, reported CBS.
The May story quoted the Georgia Christian Alliance’s executive director, Sadie Fields, as voicing opposition to the vaccine, given that the virus is "something that is only contracted through sexual activity."
Other religious and conservative organizations, such as the Family Research Council, lobbied to make the vaccination something that parents could opt for, but did not wish to see it become mandatory.
Said John Hopkins University’s Dr. Maura Gillison, who co-authored the new report, "We need to start having a discussion about those cancers other than cervical cancer that may be affected in a positive way by the vaccine."
It had already been known that HPV can cause genital and anal warts among men, along with cancer of the penis and the anus. The AP article cited earlier work by Gillision, et al, linking HPV with cancer in the oropharynx, a region of the throat including the tonsils and base of the tongue.
By looking at data from the last three decades and grouping oral cancer cases into those caused by HPV and those not caused by the virus, the new research suggests a steady increase in HPV-related oral cancer. At current rates, HPV-caused oral cancer is as prevalent as that linked with alcohol and tobacco.
Projecting into the future, Gillison was quoted in the AP story as saying, "If current trends continue, within the next 10 years there may be more oral cancers in the United States caused by HPV than [by] tobacco or alcohol."
One spot of good news: HPV-caused cancer is easier to combat through radiation treatment and chemotherapy.
Some causal relationship between oral caner and oral sexual practices has been suggested by studies, though nothing has as yet been demonstrated conclusively, the article said.
But oral sex is not the only vector: it’s thought that it’s possible the virus can be carried into the mouth after getting onto the hands.
Kilian Melloy reviews media, conducts interviews, and writes commentary for EDGEBoston, where he also serves as Assistant Arts Editor.
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