Smoking raises virus-related cervical cancer risk

	Tweet

Cigarette smoking significantly increases the risk of cervical cancer associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16, according to a report in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Numerous reports have linked HPV, and particularly type 16, with cervical cancer and recently a vaccine against this and other HPV types was approved for preventing the disease.

“Smoking has previously been implicated in cervical cancer, but our results suggest it is much higher in HPV-positive women (particularly those with high amounts of HPV) than HPV-negative women,” Anthony S. Gunnell from the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, told Reuters Health.

Gunnell and colleagues investigated the potential interaction between smoking and HPV-16 in the development of cervical cancer using a database of all Swedish women who participated in screening in Uppsala county between 1969 and 1995.

Current smokers had increased cervical cancer risk of nearly twofold, while the presence of HPV-16 increased the risk by eightfold, the report indicates.

Women who smoked for at least 5 years and harbored HPV-16 had the highest risk of cancer, and were 32-times more likely to develop the disease than nonsmokers without HPV-16.

“Our study revealed evidence suggestive of synergism between cigarette smoking (particularly duration of smoking) and HPV-16 in (cervical cancer) development, which occurs many years before diagnosis,” the authors conclude.

“Of course, it is difficult to take full advantage of this knowledge (with respect to Pap screening practice) since HPV testing is not commonplace,” Gunnell noted, “but women should perhaps be made aware of how much of an increased risk they may be in if they continue to smoke or start.”

SOURCE: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, November 2006.

RELATED STORIES:
“Screen and treat” cervical cancer programs effective in poorly resourced areas   Health panel cautious on HPV screening vs Pap   Women diagnosed with precancerous CIN at risk for cervical cancer   Researcher Finds Link Between Chlamydia and Cervical Cancer   Cervical cancer vaccine gives long protection   $11.5 Million Cervical Cancer Grant Awarded to UAB Cancer Center, Partners   Cervical cancer vaccines may cut need for screening   High cervical cancer rates sign of larger problems   CDC recommends human papillomavirus virus vaccination   Women with AIDS face cervical cancer threat   Glaxo HPV vaccine shows promise for women 26-55   Fewer than 3 doses of cervical cancer vaccine effective   Study determines costs of breast and cervical cancer detection among low-income women   1-visit screening, prevention for cervical cancer holds promise   Virus causes rare form of cervical cancer too   Newer cervical cancer test no better than the old?   HPV Vaccine Reduces Abnormal Pap Test Results   Cervical disease sufferers could benefit from HPV vaccine   Cervical cancer risk higher in women on the pill   Screening for cervical cancer low for immigrant women   Coils almost halve risk of cervical cancer: study   The Pill doesn’t affect cervical pre-cancer risk

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]