Times, February 02, 2005
Vaccine could wipe out deadly cervical cancer
By Mark Henderson, Science Correspondent
After successful trials, two vaccines for cervical cancer are expected to be in use within five years
Two vaccines against the second deadliest cancer among women under 35 have proved so successful in trials that experts are convinced that they will soon be licensed for widespread use.
They prevent infection with strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV) that are known to cause more than 70 per cent of cervical cancers,
HPV is transmitted sexually and the vaccines would have to be given to teenage girls who are not sexually active to secure maximum protection, so their use is likely to be highly controversial.
It is invariably linked to HPV infection — which affects about 75 per cent of sexually active adults — although other factors such as smoking contri-bute. Both vaccines, Gardasil, made by Merck, and Cervarix, from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), protect against the HPV-16 and HPV-18 strains, which cause 71 per cent of cases.
Trials involving more than 1,000 patients suggest that they offer better than 90 per cent protection, and the companies have started final studies involving tens of thousands of women for several years.
A cervical cancer vaccine would be most effective if given to sexually active men as well, Dr Szarewski said. Men are not severely affected by HPV but provide a reservoir from which it can reach women.
“It will be important in the end that both men and women get this vaccine,” Dr Szarewski said. “Until you have both genders vaccinated, the coverage is not anything like as complete.”
The Merck Gardasil vaccine immunises people against two further strains of HPV that do not cause cervical cancer, but trigger genital warts. This will make men more likely to use it, Dr Szarewski said.
If the vaccines can be shown to offer lifelong protection, they might be offered as part of the childhood immunisation programme, she added.
Vaccine could wipe out deadly cervical cancer
By Mark Henderson, Science Correspondent
After successful trials, two vaccines for cervical cancer are expected to be in use within five years
Two vaccines against the second deadliest cancer among women under 35 have proved so successful in trials that experts are convinced that they will soon be licensed for widespread use.
They prevent infection with strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV) that are known to cause more than 70 per cent of cervical cancers,
HPV is transmitted sexually and the vaccines would have to be given to teenage girls who are not sexually active to secure maximum protection, so their use is likely to be highly controversial.
It is invariably linked to HPV infection — which affects about 75 per cent of sexually active adults — although other factors such as smoking contri-bute. Both vaccines, Gardasil, made by Merck, and Cervarix, from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), protect against the HPV-16 and HPV-18 strains, which cause 71 per cent of cases.
Trials involving more than 1,000 patients suggest that they offer better than 90 per cent protection, and the companies have started final studies involving tens of thousands of women for several years.
A cervical cancer vaccine would be most effective if given to sexually active men as well, Dr Szarewski said. Men are not severely affected by HPV but provide a reservoir from which it can reach women.
“It will be important in the end that both men and women get this vaccine,” Dr Szarewski said. “Until you have both genders vaccinated, the coverage is not anything like as complete.”
The Merck Gardasil vaccine immunises people against two further strains of HPV that do not cause cervical cancer, but trigger genital warts. This will make men more likely to use it, Dr Szarewski said.
If the vaccines can be shown to offer lifelong protection, they might be offered as part of the childhood immunisation programme, she added.
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