These infections are behind 1 in 8 cancer cases worldwide, study finds

Key Points:

• A new study published in The Lancet Oncology estimates that about 12% of global cancer cases in 2024, roughly 2.3 million, are linked to 12 infections, many of which are preventable and treatable.
• Helicobacter pylori and human papillomavirus (HPV) are the top two infections responsible for approximately 1.5 million cancer cases, primarily gastric and cervical cancers respectively.
• Vaccines like Gardasil for HPV and hepatitis B, along with testing and treatment for infections such as H. pylori, hepatitis B and C, and HIV, are effective tools in preventing infection-related cancers but are underutilized in some regions.
• The burden of infection-related cancers is disproportionately high in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Eastern Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia, where access to prevention and treatment resources is limited.
• While infection is a significant factor in certain cancers, such as cervical cancer, most cancers globally are not caused by infections, and ongoing research is needed to better understand other possible infection-cancer links.