Cervical cancer could be eradicated by 2100

Strengthening the vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV) could eradicate cervical cancer in high-income countries in the next 30 years, most other countries following it from here the end of the century, according to new research.

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In 2018, there were 570,000 new cases of cervical cancer, accounting for 6.6% of all female cancers. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that about 90% of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) belongs to a family of viruses that affect the skin and membranes that line the body, including the cervix, anus, mouth and throat.

HPV is extremely common and there are more than 100 strains, 14 of which are oncogenic (carcinogens). These strains have been associated with cancer of the cervix in women, as well as anal, penis and certain types of head and neck cancer in men.

The high rate of cervical cancer mortality is thought to be significantly reduced through prevention, early diagnosis, and effective screening and treatment programs.

Lead author of the study and professor at the New South Wales Cancer Council in Sydney, Karen Canfell, said that reaching the point of virtual elimination in all countries "will depend on the maintenance – and, hopefully, improved participation rates in existing HPV vaccination programs and cervical cancer treatment. screening initiatives. "

There are currently vaccines that protect against two strains of HPV: strains 16 and 18. These strains are responsible for 70% of cervical cancer cases.

Without further vaccine intervention, more than 44.4 million women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer over the next 50 years, according to a study published on Lancet Oncology.

While the vaccine has been deployed in most high-income countries, low- and middle-income countries do not have the same level of coverage. The World Health Organization has called for global action to scale up vaccination, screening, cancer treatment, early detection and early treatment of invasive early cancers, as well as palliative care.

However, the Vaccine Confidence Project of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has revealed that acceptance rates have increased from over 75% to less than 1%.

The HPV vaccine provoked negative reactions after several girls in Colombia began to experience unwanted psychosomatic symptoms, including fainting and loss of consciousness after receiving the vaccine.

Epidemiological investigations by Colombian health authorities have revealed no "organic association" between the HPV vaccine and its undesirable symptoms.

With an expansion of global vaccine coverage ranging from 80 to 100% with a broad-spectrum vaccine against HPV by 2020, "6.7 to 7.7 million cases" could be avoided, according to a study based on in Australia, adding that "more than half of these cases will be avoided after 2060."

According to the researchers, for low- and middle-income countries, testing twice a life at 35 and 45 years with a global coverage of 70% "would prevent 12.5 to 13.4 million cases in the world. total over the next 50 years.

Canfell said that "despite the enormity of the problem, our results suggest that global elimination is within our reach."

However, the study also warns that rates of less than four new cases per 100,000 women would not be reached by the end of the century in all low human development index countries.

It should be remembered that, in some ways, the journey towards the elimination of cervical cancer is only a beginning … The challenge is even greater in the poorest countries of the world, who not only have very limited access to these key innovations, but also some of the highest rates of cervical cancer in the world. "

Karen Canfell, Lead Author

She stressed that the situation was a "tragedy, not only for women but also for their families and society in general".

In 2020, the World Health Assembly will consider a draft global strategy to "accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer." The results of this new study have made it possible to define elimination objectives for the 2020-2030 period.