Infections Linked to 12% of New Cancer Cases Globally, WHO Report Finds
A recent report highlights that nearly one in eight new cancer diagnoses worldwide in 2024 were attributable to 12 specific infectious agents, underscoring the potential for prevention through vaccination and treatment.
Nearly 12% of new cancer cases worldwide in 2024 were caused by 12 specific infections, according to a recent report from the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The findings, published in The Lancet Oncology, suggest that preventing these infections could avert a significant number of malignancies.
Certain human papillomaviruses (HPV) are responsible for the majority of cervical cancers and a notable portion of head and neck cancers, accounting for approximately 4% of new cancer diagnoses in 2024 due to HPV infection. Other infections implicated in cancer development include the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is linked to how the virus resides within immune cells called B cells. This interaction can impede normal cellular processes that would otherwise eliminate the virus and halt cancer development, according to virologist Claire Shannon-Lowe.
Prevention Strategies and Future Hopes
Some of the infections identified have available treatments and preventive measures. For instance, Helicobacter pylori can be eradicated with antibiotics, which reduces the risk of gastric cancer. Similarly, treating HIV lowers the cancer risk associated with the infection. Vaccines also play a crucial role in preventing certain infection-related cancers.
The hepatitis B virus vaccine was among the first developed specifically for cancer prevention. The HPV vaccine, approved two decades ago, aims to prevent cervical cancer. Cancer epidemiologists anticipate that the widespread adoption of the HPV vaccine will become evident in future analyses as vaccinated individuals reach ages where such cancers typically emerge.
However, for other viruses like EBV, which is nearly ubiquitous and has a long-documented association with cancer, an effective vaccine or prevention method is not yet available. This represents an area the IARC study aims to highlight, prompting further research and development.
For some infections, such as the Kaposi-sarcoma associated herpes virus, more research into prevention is needed. The hope is that the recent findings will stimulate increased development in this area, potentially leading to new strategies for combating infection-linked cancers.