Updated December 30, 2014.
The virus that has been identified as the cause of most cervical cancers, may contribute to the development of lung cancer as well.
This information was presented at the 1st European Lung Cancer Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, April 23-26, 2008. Scientists at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, looked at lung cancer tissue from 23 patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Of these, 5 tested positive for the human papilloma virus (HPV).
Two of these were positive for HPV 16, the virus responsible for at least 50% of cases of cervical cancers. All of the patients were smokers. In another study of lung cancer tumors from 65 patients, roughly half were found to contain the measles virus.
The concept of an infection contributing to cancer does not come as a total surprise, since worldwide, nearly 25% of cancers are due to infections. It is not known what role these viruses may play in the development of lung cancer, but it is thought that HPV may act as a co-carcinogen along with smoking. Certainly quitting smoking is the most important step in preventing lung cancer, but this study does raise some hope that methods we have focused on to prevent cervical cancer ? such as safe sex, screening, and immunization ? may play a role in lung cancer prevention in the future.
The 1st European Lung Cancer Conference was organized as a joint effort of the European Society for Medical Oncology, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.
Reference:
Viruses may play a role in lung cancer development. European Society for Medical Oncology. 03/25/08.
The virus that has been identified as the cause of most cervical cancers, may contribute to the development of lung cancer as well.
This information was presented at the 1st European Lung Cancer Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, April 23-26, 2008. Scientists at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, looked at lung cancer tissue from 23 patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Of these, 5 tested positive for the human papilloma virus (HPV).
Two of these were positive for HPV 16, the virus responsible for at least 50% of cases of cervical cancers. All of the patients were smokers. In another study of lung cancer tumors from 65 patients, roughly half were found to contain the measles virus.
The concept of an infection contributing to cancer does not come as a total surprise, since worldwide, nearly 25% of cancers are due to infections. It is not known what role these viruses may play in the development of lung cancer, but it is thought that HPV may act as a co-carcinogen along with smoking. Certainly quitting smoking is the most important step in preventing lung cancer, but this study does raise some hope that methods we have focused on to prevent cervical cancer ? such as safe sex, screening, and immunization ? may play a role in lung cancer prevention in the future.
The 1st European Lung Cancer Conference was organized as a joint effort of the European Society for Medical Oncology, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.
Reference:
Viruses may play a role in lung cancer development. European Society for Medical Oncology. 03/25/08.
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