All articles tagged with #hpv
Inhibrx’s experimental OX40-targeting immunotherapy produced tumor responses in head and neck cancers, with the most striking activity in HPV-positive tumors, though the benefit may be limited to that subset despite a long history of failed OX40 approaches.
An observational US study finds that the HPV vaccine, originally aimed at preventing cervical cancer in women, is associated with about a 70% lower incidence of head and neck cancers in men, especially oropharyngeal cancer. While not yet proving causation, the data suggest broad cancer-prevention benefits and reinforce the push for gender-neutral HPV vaccination beyond protecting cervical cancer.
New CDC data (2023) show 32% of women ages 21–29 and about 15% of women ages 30–65 had never been screened for cervical cancer, up from 2005, with sizable disparities by race, education, and insurance; screening can detect precancerous changes and HPV vaccination complements but does not replace screening; guidelines now allow Pap tests, HPV testing, or both at different intervals, with newer options like self-collection to improve access; rising late-stage cancer rates after 2017 highlight the preventive gap.
England's NHS will invite nearly 4 million women who missed cervical screening to order free at-home HPV self-testing kits over the next year via the NHS App, text, email, or letter. The swab checks for high-risk HPV, and a positive result triggers a follow-up cervical screening. Trials suggest self-testing could boost uptake by about 400,000 per year, contributing to the 2040 goal of eliminating cervical cancer, while clinician screening remains the best prevention method.
A large real-world study using U.S. medical records found people vaccinated against HPV had a lower incidence of head and neck cancers, especially oropharyngeal cancer, with the strongest protection seen when vaccination occurred between ages 9 and 26. The results support broader cancer-prevention benefits of HPV vaccination but do not prove causation, and longer follow-up is needed as these cancers often develop many years after exposure. Vaccination rates in the U.S. were about 63% of teens in 2024.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine have bioengineered a chewing gum containing FRIL, an antiviral protein from the hyacinth bean, that can neutralize at least five oral viruses including HPV; in saliva samples it reduced the virus by about 93%. The gum is intended as an adjunct therapy alongside standard cancer treatments, with a four-week clinical trial planned in which patients chew the gum three times daily; if successful, it could become a low-cost, over-the-counter option after FDA approval.
Scientists bioengineered a lablab bean gum containing an antiviral protein that cuts HPV levels by up to 93% in saliva and, when fortified with protegrin, nearly eliminates two cancer-associated oral bacteria (Pg and Fn), suggesting use as an adjuvant therapy or preventive measure for squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and throat while preserving beneficial oral microbes.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania developed a lablab-bean–based bioengineered chewing gum that releases FRIL antiviral protein and Protegrin antimicrobial peptide to reduce HPV levels (up to 93% in saliva) and two cancer-linked bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum) in lab tests, while largely sparing beneficial oral bacteria. The gum is not yet publicly available and is not a substitute for HPV vaccination, regular screenings, or medical treatment; more clinical trials are needed to determine whether regular use could lower cancer risk or improve outcomes.
A Tampa Bay Times report chronicles Eileen McGill Fox’s fearlessly public story: routine HPV screening identified high-risk HPV, which contributed to vulvar, cervical, and anal cancers over several years, and doctors say the HPV vaccine could have prevented much of her treatment. She is now advocacy-focused, urging vaccination and regular screening to prevent HPV-related cancers and reduce stigma.
Researchers developed a bioengineered chewing gum containing antiviral FRIL and the antimicrobial peptide protegrin that, in ex vivo tests on patient saliva, reduced HPV levels by up to 93% and nearly eliminated two cancer-associated bacteria (Pg and Fn) while preserving beneficial oral bacteria. The gum could serve as an affordable adjunct or preventive therapy to current head and neck cancer treatments, potentially lowering infection risk without disturbing the healthy oral microbiome.
After decades without a pap smear, Cindi Newman begins cervical cancer screening following her wife Nikki Marshall’s death, highlighting trauma and misconceptions in LGBTQ health. With FDA-approved at-home HPV self-testing and updated guidelines that include self-collection, she urges others to start screening early, noting that about 13,000 Americans are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and around 4,000 die.
Comedian and The Pitt actor Moshe Kasher revealed an HPV-related tonsil cancer diagnosis after finding a lump during filming. He underwent a five-hour surgery removing his tonsils and 25 neck lymph nodes; doctors noted the cancer is at an early stage (Stage 1) and said a very high cure rate (~95%) is likely, with radiation possible depending on pathology. He remains hopeful, detailing a long recovery ahead and expressing gratitude for his life and family as he plans to return to work.
Comedian Moshe Kasher revealed on Instagram that he was diagnosed with HPV-positive tonsil cancer, underwent throat surgery, and spent Father’s Day recovering. He noted that HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer is common among men under 55 and that HPV causes a majority of such cancers in the U.S., adding that the HPV vaccine can prevent HPV infection and the resulting cancer.
A Lancet analysis shows England’s HPV vaccination program, started in 2008, has saved around 200 lives and led to zero cervical cancer deaths among 20–24-year-olds from 2020–2024; those vaccinated at 12–13 now have near-zero risk before 30, while pre-vaccine deaths in that group averaged about 20 per year. Despite progress, HPV vaccine uptake remains below WHO targets, so efforts continue to boost vaccination and maintain screening through age 25–64.
Twenty years after the HPV vaccine’s approval, HPV-related cancers—especially head and neck cancers in men—are rising, even as vaccination and screening have reduced cervical cancer. HPV is transmitted sexually and can silently cause tumors in the throat, making early detection difficult. Vaccination coverage among teens is improving but remains incomplete, while studies show vaccinated individuals have significantly lower oral HPV infections and cancer risk. The piece centers on Michael Whelan’s battle with late-stage HPV-driven cancer to highlight the vaccine’s potential to prevent future cases and reduce suffering, urging broader awareness and uptake.