Vaccine Against Cervical Cancer
Published on Mar 18 2010, in the categories: Preventive measures
Cancer of the cervix: a vaccine available!
In western European countries, cancer of the cervix is responsible each year a thousand deaths. The disease develops from precancerous lesions called caused by certain viruses. But now, a vaccine offers protection over the long term against the most harmful of these intruders.
Two vaccines, Gardasil developed by Merck and Sanofi-Pasteur MSD and Cervarix from GSK laboratories now offer protection against cancer of the cervix. Faced with this disease that affects 500 000 women each year worldwide, these results represent a real hope.
Hunting papillomavirus
Vaccine - Cancer of the cervix has different types of viruses, the family of human papillomavirus (HPV) are the cause of cervical cancer of the uterus. Today, the Pap test (Pap smear) can detect these infections, sexually transmitted in most cases remain hidden or are benign. But these infections can also develop into precancerous lesions, and if they are not treated, cancer of the cervix uteri. There are every year and 258 000 deaths worldwide, including 1 000. Papillomaviruses present in 80% cases do not have the same carcinogenic.The most harmful is undoubtedly that of type 16 (HPV-16), implicated in 50 to 60% of cancers of col1. Comes second, HPV-18 which is responsible for 10% of cancers. Conversely, the risk of cancer among women not infected is virtually nil.
Only downside to the strategy of Pap smear screening, it involves a large number of reviews that benefit only a minority. Indeed, a maximum of 3% of women with HPV will develop cancer. Thus the development of an effective vaccine could soon lead to another prevention strategy.
A 100% protection
On September 20, 2006, the vaccine Gardasil received its European approval for placing on the market. This vaccine protects against human papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16 and 18 (HPV 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts, sexually transmitted infections better known under the name of cockscomb).
Several studies have measured the effectiveness of the vaccine, the principal has involved more than 12 000 women aged 16 to 26 years (live 13 different countries) who were not infected by the virus. Half received three doses of the vaccine and half received a placebo (inactive drug).After 17 months of follow-up, the first group showed no pre-cancerous lesions while they were 21 in the second group. "These are fundamentals, which show that vaccination with Gardasil helps prevent precancerous lesions and cancers of non-invasive cervical cancer caused by HPV 16 and 18," said Laura Koutsky, then, the principal investigator of the group Research on HPV at Washington University in Seattle.
No vaccinations have been discontinued because of side effects of the vaccine. Although side effects were more frequent among women who received Gardasil than in those who received placebo, it was mostly a slight discomfort at the injection site. These results confirm previous studies conducted on a smaller number of women.
In western European countries, cancer of the cervix is responsible each year a thousand deaths. The disease develops from precancerous lesions called caused by certain viruses. But now, a vaccine offers protection over the long term against the most harmful of these intruders.
Two vaccines, Gardasil developed by Merck and Sanofi-Pasteur MSD and Cervarix from GSK laboratories now offer protection against cancer of the cervix. Faced with this disease that affects 500 000 women each year worldwide, these results represent a real hope.
Hunting papillomavirus
Vaccine - Cancer of the cervix has different types of viruses, the family of human papillomavirus (HPV) are the cause of cervical cancer of the uterus. Today, the Pap test (Pap smear) can detect these infections, sexually transmitted in most cases remain hidden or are benign. But these infections can also develop into precancerous lesions, and if they are not treated, cancer of the cervix uteri. There are every year and 258 000 deaths worldwide, including 1 000. Papillomaviruses present in 80% cases do not have the same carcinogenic.The most harmful is undoubtedly that of type 16 (HPV-16), implicated in 50 to 60% of cancers of col1. Comes second, HPV-18 which is responsible for 10% of cancers. Conversely, the risk of cancer among women not infected is virtually nil.
Only downside to the strategy of Pap smear screening, it involves a large number of reviews that benefit only a minority. Indeed, a maximum of 3% of women with HPV will develop cancer. Thus the development of an effective vaccine could soon lead to another prevention strategy.
A 100% protection
On September 20, 2006, the vaccine Gardasil received its European approval for placing on the market. This vaccine protects against human papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16 and 18 (HPV 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts, sexually transmitted infections better known under the name of cockscomb).
Several studies have measured the effectiveness of the vaccine, the principal has involved more than 12 000 women aged 16 to 26 years (live 13 different countries) who were not infected by the virus. Half received three doses of the vaccine and half received a placebo (inactive drug).After 17 months of follow-up, the first group showed no pre-cancerous lesions while they were 21 in the second group. "These are fundamentals, which show that vaccination with Gardasil helps prevent precancerous lesions and cancers of non-invasive cervical cancer caused by HPV 16 and 18," said Laura Koutsky, then, the principal investigator of the group Research on HPV at Washington University in Seattle.
No vaccinations have been discontinued because of side effects of the vaccine. Although side effects were more frequent among women who received Gardasil than in those who received placebo, it was mostly a slight discomfort at the injection site. These results confirm previous studies conducted on a smaller number of women.
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