New vaccine could protect against more types of cancer-causing HPV
Perth researchers today launched the trial of new vaccine that could provide women with additional protection against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types known to cause cervical cancer.
The Vaccine Trials Group at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and Princess Margaret Hospital is seeking healthy women aged between 18 and 26 years to take part in the new study.
The new vaccine is designed to provide protection against types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which cause approximately 90% of cervical cancer, and most cases of genital warts.
Dr Peter Richmond, Head of the Vaccine Trials Group, said that if the new vaccine is as effective as anticipated, it would provide additional protection against cervical cancer than the currently available HPV vaccines.
"While it wouldn't remove the need for regular Pap smears, it certainly has the potential to further reduce the risk of cervical cancer, other genital cancers and distressing diseases, even more so than the currently available vaccines."
"HPV is a very common virus and most women will have an infection at some time during their lives, exposing them to the risk of developing these serious diseases."
All women in this study will receive the study vaccine or the Gardasil® vaccine. The study, which will be tested across Australia and New Zealand, will take three years.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT HPV AND CANCER
Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in women worldwide. The World Health Organization recently estimated that 510,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 288,000 women die from the disease every year.
Cervical cancer can be caused by infection with a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV infection is caused through sexual contact and is very common. Approximately 75 per cent of women become infected with HPV at some time in their lives, usually soon after the onset of sexual activity.
While most women are infected with HPV at some time in their lives, only a small number of these infections progress to cervical cancer. In developed countries such as Australia, most of these cases can be detected and treated early through regular Pap smears.
Although there are approximately 15 different types of HPV which can cause cervical cancer, approximately 70 per cent of all cervical cancers are associated with infection with only two types, HPV 16 and HPV 18, and 20% of cervical cancer is due to types 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 58, These are the most important of the so-called 'high-risk', or oncogenic (cancer-causing) types of HPV.
Two HPV vaccines have already been tested extensively and have shown they are effective in preventing two strains of HPV infection responsible for 70% of cervical cancer worldwide.
The Vaccine Trials Group is a collaboration between the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and Princess Margaret Hospital for Children