The cervical cancer vaccine could prevent even more cases of the disease in England than previously thought, UK scientists have found. A study by scientists at the Health Protection Agency (HPA), the University of Manchester and the Manchester Royal Infirmary suggests that the vaccine could potentially reduce the number of cases each year from about 3,000 to less than 700.
Previous studies had suggested that about 70% of cases of cervical cancer are caused by types 16 or 18 of the human papillomavirus (HPV) – against which the current cervical cancer vaccine provides protection. But the latest study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, indicates that these two strains of the virus actually cause between 73% and 77% of cervical cancer cases. In line with other findings, this research also suggests that vaccination may provide some protection against other similar HPV types, potentially preventing a further three to four per cent of cervical cancers (another 90 to 120 cases per year). HPA epidemiologist Dr Kate Soldan, who was involved in the research, said that if vaccine uptake is good, the HPV vaccine should prevent the majority of cases of cervical cancer in this country. Jessica Harris, Cancer Research UK’s health information officer, commented: “The HPV vaccination programme provides a great opportunity to prevent cervical cancer from developing in the first place. As this study shows that more cervical cancers are linked to the two types of HPV targeted by the vaccine, the potential for prevention is even greater.”
