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HPV and H. pylori linked to millions of infection-related cancers
Fox News • • general
Key Points:
- Approximately 2.3 million new cancer cases worldwide in 2024, about one in eight, are linked to infections, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
- Twelve infections were identified as cancer contributors, with Helicobacter pylori, human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) accounting for nearly all cases.
- Many infection-related cancers could be prevented through vaccination, treatment, or screenings, but the burden disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries.
- Experts emphasize the importance of HPV vaccination and screening for infections like H. pylori to reduce cancer risk, noting that most people exposed to these infections do not develop cancer.
- The study's limitations include reliance on population-level data and inclusion only of infections already proven to cause cancer, potentially underestimating the total impact.
