Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print HPV vaccine does not appear to be effective for treating pre-existing HPV infection

HPV vaccine does not appear to be effective for treating pre-existing HPV infection

August 15, 2007

For women with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, use of the HPV-16/18 vaccine will not accelerate reduction of the virus and should not be used to treat the infection, according to a study in the August 15 issue of JAMA.

HPV vaccines were designed to prevent HPV infection and the development of cervical precancers and cancer. Some research has suggested that HPV vaccines could help clear the virus in women already infected, according to background information in the article.




Allan Hildesheim, Ph.D., of the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md., and colleagues conducted a study to address the question of whether women positive for HPV DNA should be encouraged to receive HPV-16/18 vaccination to induce or accelerate clearance of their infections. The trial was conducted in two provinces of Costa Rica and included 2,189 women age 18 to 25 years who were positive for HPV DNA. Participants were randomly assigned to receive three doses of HPV-16/18 vaccine (n = 1,088) or a control hepatitis A vaccine (n = 1,101) over 6 months.

There was no evidence that HPV vaccination significantly altered rates of viral clearance. At the 6-month visit, rates of clearance were 33.4 percent vs. 31.6 percent for HPV-16/18 among participants who received the HPV vaccine and the control vaccine, respectively. At the 12-month visit, rates of clearance among participants in the HPV group and the control group, respectively, were 48.8 percent vs. 49.8 percent for HPV-16/18.

There was no evidence of vaccine effects with further analysis on selected study entry characteristics reflective of disease extent, including HPV-16/18 antibody results, cytologic results, and HPV viral load. Similarly, no evidence of vaccine effects was observed in analyses stratified by other study entry parameters thought to potentially influence clearance rates and efficacy of the vaccine, including time since sexual initiation, oral contraceptive use, cigarette smoking, and concomitant infection with Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

"These findings have important clinical implications. For example, in countries where HPV DNA testing is incorporated in cervical cancer screening and prevention efforts, adult women who have abnormal Papanicolaou test results induced by HPV infection and/or who test positive for an oncogenic HPV type using the clinically available HC2 test might be interested in receiving the HPV vaccine to treat their existent infection," the authors write. "-our results demonstrate that in women positive for HPV DNA, HPV-16/18 vaccination does not accelerate clearance of the virus and should not be used for purposes of treating prevalent infections."

JAMA and Archives Journals



Related HPV Current Events and HPV News Articles HPV Current Events and HPV News RSS HPV Current Events and HPV News RSS
Survival of head and neck cancer patients is greatly affected by coexisting ailments
Current estimates for head and neck cancer survival are largely inaccurate because they widely disregard many of the most common diseases such patients have in addition to their primary cancer, says Jay Piccirillo, M.D., a head and neck specialist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the Siteman Cancer Center and Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

LSUHSC public health contributes to estimate of HPV-related cancers
Professor Vivien Chen, PhD,. Associate Professor Xiao Cheng Wu, MD, PhD and Assistant Professor Edward Peters, DMD, SM, ScD, at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health contributed five papers to the largest most comprehensive assessment of the burden of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers in the United States to date.

Oral rinses used for tracking HPV-positive head and neck cancers holds promise for cancer screening
A study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, validates a non-invasive screening method with future potential for detection of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive head and neck cancers.

Extra copies of EGFR gene signal poor prognosis for vulvar cancer
A genetic fingerprint identified in patients with a gynecologic cancer may reveal candidates for targeted therapy.

Model highlights benefits and risks of cervical cancer screening methods
In an analysis based on a computer model, it appears that comparing the benefits and risks of different cervical cancer prevention approaches may help women and their physicians choose appropriate screening strategies.

New HPV test for developing countries shows high accuracy in predicting cervical disease: Study
A new HPV test developed by QIAGEN specifically for use in regions of the world with scarce resources is "substantially" more accurate in identifying women with cervical disease than the current methods (Pap testing and visual inspection) in these countries.

Higher anaphylaxis rates after HPV vaccination: CMAJ study
The estimated rate of anaphylaxis in young women after human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination was significantly higher - 5 to 20 fold - than that identified in comparable school-based vaccination programs.

Cervical cancer prevention should focus on vaccinating adolescent girls
The cost-effectiveness of vaccination in the United States against human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually-transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, will be optimized by achieving universal vaccine coverage in young adolescent girls, by targeting initial "catch-up" efforts to vaccinate women younger than 21 years of age, and by revising current screening policies.

NIST trumps the clumps: Making biologic drugs safer
Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a technique to measure the formation of clumps of proteins in protein-based pharmaceuticals.

New study shows potential to treat or prevent viral cancers
A new study, presented at the SNM 55th Annual Meeting, shows that radioimmunotherapy (RIT) targeting viral antigens offers a novel option to treat-or even prevent-many viral cancers by targeting cancer cells expressing viral antigens or infected cells before they convert into malignancy.
More HPV Current Events and HPV News Articles


What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about HPV and Abnormal Pap Smears
by Joel Palefsky, Jody Handley

Human Papilloma Virus - HPV - is a sexually transmitted disease that is known as "the silent killer" because its symptoms are so ambiguous most people don't know they have it. A proven precursor to both cervical and penile cancer, HPV can be deadly if left untreated. With 70 known strains of the virus in existence, HPV is widespread and - since condoms don't protect you - it infects over a...



HPV and Cervical Dysplasia: A Naturopathic Approach (Woodland Health Series)
by Jane Semple

In this up-to-date booklet, naturopath Dr. Jane Semple introduces you to the human papilloma virus (HPV), the symptoms it causes, its connection with cancer, and the vaccines and conventional medical treatments used to fight it. Looking at HPV from a holistic viewpoint, Dr Semple offers a naturopathic approach involving nutrition, vitamins, minerals, greens, juices, herbs, and other natural...



The HPV Vaccine Controversy: Sex, Cancer, God, and Politics: A Guide for Parents, Women, Men, and Teenagers
by Shobha S. Krishnan

The Human Papilloma Virus, so-called HPV, is one of the most widespread sexually transmitted diseases in America, with more than 20 million infected now and more than 6 million new cases detected each year. It is estimated that at least 50 percent of all sexually active people will be infected during their lifetimes. And while the "silent" disease may cause no symptoms in most cases, two strains...



Damaged Goods?: Women Living With Incurable Sexually Transmitted Diseases
by Adina Nack

How do women living with genital herpes and/or HPV (human papillomavirus) infections see themselves as sexual beings, and what choices do they make about sexual health issues? Adina Nack, a medical sociologist who specializes in sexual health and social psychology, conducted in-depth interviews with 43 women about their identities and sexuality with regard to chronic illness. The result is a...



Gardasil: Cervical Cancer Vaccine, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Related STDs, Authoritative CDC, NIH, and FDA Documents, Clinical References (Essential Guide)
by U.S. Government

This up-to-date electronic book on CD-ROM provides the best collection available anywhere of official Federal government information and documents on the subject of the cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, along with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and related STDs. This CD-ROM uses next-generation search technology that allows complete indexing and makes all files on the disc fully searchable. For...



Women at Risk: The HPV Epidemic and Your Cervical Health
by Gregory Henderson M.D. Ph.D, Batya Swift Yasgur

With lifesaving information for women's reproductive health, this important book explains one of the most dangerous yet relatively unknown sexually transmitted diseases -- human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical...



21st Century Complete Medical Guide to the Cervical Cancer Vaccine, Gardasil, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Related STDs, Authoritative CDC, NIH, and FDA Documents, Clinical References
by PM Medical Health News

This up-to-date electronic book on CD-ROM provides the best collection available anywhere of official Federal government information and documents on the subject of the cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, along with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and related STDs. This CD-ROM uses next-generation search technology that allows complete indexing and makes all files on the disc fully searchable. For...



Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (Diseases and Disorders)
by Don Nardo



The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Genital HPV Infection: A Revised and Updated Directory for the Internet Age
by Icon Health Publications

This book has been created for patients who have decided to make education and research an integral part of the treatment process. Although it also gives information useful to doctors, caregivers and other health professionals, it tells patients where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to genital hpv infection (also Anogenital warts; Condyloma; Condyloma...



The Health Professional's HPV Handbook: Volume 1: Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer

This compact, illustrated handbook is a concise but comprehensive resource that introduces medical students, general medical practitioners and gynecologists to the significance of the human papillomaviruses in the etiology of cervical cancer. All chapters are fully referenced and written by experts in the field. The content review virus structure, the epidemiology of HPV, the latest advances in...

© 2008 BrightSurf.com