HPV causing oral cancers in men; vaccine urged for boys

From http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/02/hpv-causing-ora.html

HPV causing oral cancers in men; vaccine urged for boys

USA Today
Saturday February 2, 2008

Human papillomavirus, the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, is also a major cause of oral cancer in men, according to a new study being reported by the Associated Press.

The rise in cancers of the mouth and upper throat is probably the result of an increase in oral sex and a decrease in smoking. HPV now causes as many oral cancers as tobacco and alcohol.

As a result, there's a push to vaccinate boys with the only HPV vaccine on the market, which is targeted at girls and young women. Merck & Co. is planning to seek federal approval this year for cross-use of Gardasil to block infection, AP writes. Every year, nearly 12,000 American women are diagnosed with cervical cancer.

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"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," said Dr. Maura Gillison of Johns Hopkins University, a co-author. The study, published today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, reviewed more than 30 years of National Cancer Institute data on oral cancers covering 46,000 cases.

In related research, Penn State University scientists report that cigarette smoke may aggravate HPV and raise the risk of cervical cancer.