About 1 in 8 cancer cases worldwide are tied to these infections - most of them preventable

Key Points:

• New research published in The Lancet Oncology estimates that about 12% of global cancer cases in 2024, or 2.3 million cases, are linked to treatable or preventable infections such as Helicobacter pylori and human papillomavirus (HPV).
• The study highlights that many infection-related cancers, including cervical, gastric, and liver cancers, could be prevented through vaccines, screening, and treatments, with HPV and hepatitis B vaccines being particularly effective.
• Infection-attributable cancers disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries, which account for 77% of these cases, due to higher infection prevalence and limited access to prevention and treatment services.
• Experts emphasize the importance of public awareness, political will, and funding to implement prevention programs, noting that early testing and treatment can significantly reduce cancer risk linked to infections.
• Additional preventive measures include safe injection practices, condom use, and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, which, if widely adopted, could prevent millions of future cancer cases worldwide.