- NEW YORK (Reuters Health)
- Certain strains of the wart-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) may raise
the risk of esophageal cancer, at least in parts of the world where the
cancer is common, researchers report.
-
- There are more than 100 types of HPV, with some causing
the common warts of the hands and feet, others causing oral or genital
warts and some causing no obvious symptoms at all. Certain sexually transmitted
HPV strains are already believed to be the major cause of cervical cancer,
but there is also evidence that HPVs may contribute to several other cancers,
including vaginal and penile cancers and some cancers of the head and neck.
-
- Esophageal cancer, which affects the tube through which
food passes to the stomach, is relatively rare in many parts of the world.
But certain regions, such as parts of China, have unusually high rates
of the disease.
-
- The new study looked at one Chinese region, Eastern Guangdong,
where esophageal cancer is common. Researchers found that among the 55
esophageal cancer patients they studied, certain strains of HPV were commonly
found in tumor samples.
-
- Dr. Zhong-Ying Shen of Shantou University Medical College
and colleagues report the findings in the November issue of the Journal
of Medical Virology.
-
- Overall, HPV was found in more than 60% of both cancerous
and normal tissue samples taken from the patients. But two "high-risk"
strains tied to cancer, HPV 16 and 18, were found mainly in tumor samples,
Shen's team reports.
-
- "Our results," the researchers write, "suggest
that the high incidence of esophageal carcinoma in this particular region
may be associated with the high infection rate with HPV, and HPV may be
one of the major risk factors in the development of this tumor."
-
- They note that in past studies in areas with low rates
of esophageal cancer, HPV has either not been detected or has shown up
far less often in esophageal tumor samples.
-
- According to the researchers, the role of HPV in the
development of esophageal cancer "might be more pronounced" in
areas of the world where the disease is common.
-
- Other factors believed to raise the risk of esophageal
cancer include smoking and heavy drinking.
-
- SOURCE: Journal of Medical Virology 2002;68:412-416.
-
- Copyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited
without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable
for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance
thereon.
|
