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 roughly 2.3 million cases, are linked to infections that are largely preventable or treatable through vaccines, screening, and treatments.
• Helicobacter pylori and human papillomavirus (HPV) are the leading infection contributors, accounting for over 1.5 million cancer cases combined, primarily gastric and cervical cancers, respectively; other significant infections include hepatitis B and C, and Epstein-Barr virus.
• The burden of infection-related cancers is disproportionately higher in low- and middle-income countries, which make up 77% of these cases, reflecting disparities in infection prevalence and access to preventive healthcare services.
• Prevention strategies such as vaccination against HPV and hepatitis B, testing and treating H. pylori and hepatitis C infections, and safe practices like condom use and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis could significantly reduce cancer incidence worldwide.
• Experts emphasize that having an infection does not guarantee cancer development, but early diagnosis and management of infections can greatly diminish cancer risk, highlighting the importance of public awareness and equitable access to prevention programs.