Humane Papillomviren (HPV) know many people as triggers of cervical cancer in women. And soon the prostate too? Two Australian scientists have evaluated 26 studies on the subject and come to the conclusion that HP viruses could also play a causal role in the development of this type of cancer – this is even “very likely”. They report on their results in the journal “Infectious Agents and Cancer“.
There are different virus variants of HPV that have one characteristic in common: they are transmitted during sex. Condoms can reduce the risk of infection, but they cannot always prevent it. It is known that infection with certain virus variants increases the risk of cancer – not only on the cervix, but also on the anus, penis or in the mouth and throat. There is a vaccination to protect against dangerous virus variants. In Germany it is recommended for both girls and boys.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men in Germany. Every year around 59,000 people fall ill with malignant growths of the so-called prostate. Most of them are at an advanced age, the average age at the time of diagnosis is 72 years. Although the cancer is widespread, little is known about its origin. Experts suspect that an hereditary predisposition could play a role.
Now the team of scientists from the “School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science” in Sydney is once again talking about HP viruses as possible triggers. The discussion is not new, the relationship has been intensively examined for several years. The researchers suspect that HPV infection could trigger cancer via elements of the immune system. Other pathogens that interacted with the HP virus could also play a role here. According to the researchers, the role of HPV in prostate cancer is very complex and clearly different from that cervical cancer– Origin.
The most important clue for the thesis is that HP viruses of the high-risk type would appear “significantly” more frequently in prostate cancer than in healthy prostate tissue, the researchers write.
“Sound scientific evidence is missing”
Prof. Michael Muders, pathologist and director of the Rudolf Becker Laboratory for Prostate Cancer Research, refers to similar studies that suggest this connection. However, given the current study, he warns of hasty conclusions. So far, there is no evidence that HP viruses play a causal role in prostate cancer, he emphasizes. Experiments with cell cultures or animal experiments could provide one. Corresponding data have not yet been published.
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“In the current review here, too, a connection between HPV infection and prostate cancer is only suggested on the basis of associations,” said Muders. “Stricter criteria were used than in the previous meta-analyzes. Nevertheless, there is still no reliable scientific evidence on the basis of which further recommendations for action can be made.”
Vaccination against HPV
The Australian researchers emphasize that HPV is just one of many pathogens that could play a role in prostate cancer. Nevertheless, they are the only pathogen against which there is a vaccine. For this reason, it is important to examine the connection in more detail. However, whether and how vaccination could prevent the development of prostate cancer is still completely unclear.
According to Michael Muders, the study could “give more emphasis” to the basic vaccination recommendation. From a medical point of view, vaccination serves to prevent cervical cancer as well as tumors in the mouth and throat. “Unfortunately is in Germany this type of prevention is not as widespread as, for example, in Scandinavian countries, “said Muders.” There is clearly a need for action here. “
The Standing Vaccination Committee (Stiko) recommends HPV vaccination for boys and girls aged 9 to 14 years. A missed vaccination should therefore be made up as early as possible, “by the age of 17 at the latest” and ideally before the first sexual contact, it says in a fact sheet. There may be short-term side effects such as headache, dizziness or fatigue after vaccination. The puncture site may also become red, swollen or painful.
Read also:
Prostate cancer PSA test: experts warn of serious damage
Swell: Infectious Agents and Cancer / Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) / German Cancer-research center / Robert Koch Institute (RKI)
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