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Around one in eight new cases of cancer worldwide in 2024 – or 2.3 million cases – have been linked to infections, according to a new analysis from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Researchers identified 12 specific infections linked to human cancer cases, including Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, Schistosoma haematobium, HTLV-1, Opisthorchis viverrini, Clonorchis sinensis, Merkel cell. polyomavirus and HIV.
The following five infections contributed to almost all global cases.
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- H. pylori: ~760,000 cases
- HPV: ~750,000 cases
- HBV: ~360,000 cases
- EBV: ~260,000 cases
- HCV: ~160,000 cases
About one in eight new cancer cases worldwide in 2024, or 2.3 million cases, were linked to infections, according to a new analysis from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). (iStock)
“The results highlight the major role that infection control can play in reducing the global burden of cancer,” study co-author Dr. Harriet Rumgay, a scientist in the IARC Cancer Surveillance Branch, said in a press release.
“Despite advances in vaccination and screening, infection-related cancers remain a major global challenge, the burden of which falls disproportionately on populations in low- and middle-income countries.”
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Researchers say many of these cancers could have been prevented through vaccination, treatment or screening.
The study, conducted in France, analyzed cancer data dating back to 2024. The results were published in The Lancet Oncology on September 28.
Limitations of the study
The study had several limitations, the researchers acknowledged.
Because the study used population-level estimates rather than following individual patients over time, the results depended on the quality of available cancer data in each country.
Additionally, this only included infections that were already proven to cause cancer, so the total impact might be underestimated.
Researchers identified 12 specific infections linked to cases of human cancer, including Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and human papillomavirus (HPV). (iStock)
“We know that there are certain infections that we are exposed to throughout our lives that can lead to an increased risk of certain cancers,” Dr. Joshua Cohen, medical director of the Gynecologic Cancer Program at the City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, Calif., told Fox News Digital.
“However, most cancers are not caused by infection.”
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HPV is one of the most common causes of cancer that occurs along the rectum, vagina or cervix, as well as the oropharynx (back of the throat), according to Cohen, who was not involved in the study.
“Eighty percent of the population has been exposed to some type of strain of HPV,” he said. “Approximately 40,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with these cancers each year.”
“Most cancers are not caused by infection.”
For most people exposed to HPV, the body will clear the virus on its own, Cohen said.
“We don’t know why some patients’ immune systems allow them to clear HPV infection and others don’t.”
Another very common cancer, although less prevalent in the United States, is gastric cancer, he noted, which is linked to H. Pylori, a stomach infection.
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“We don’t screen everyone for H. pylori in the United States – it’s more common in other parts of the world, like Southeast Asia.”
However, those who have a peptic ulcer or significant epigastric pain should talk with a gastroenterologist about getting screened and treated for H. pylori, the doctor advised.
Prevention strategies
There are things people can do to reduce the risk of infection-related cancers, according to Cohen.
“As a patient, the most important thing is to think about your health, what you can do to avoid developing these infections or that of your family,” he said.
Researchers say many of these cancers could have been prevented through vaccination, treatment or screening. (iStock)
“And if you have one of these infections, what can you do to reduce your risk of developing cancer later?”
Cohen pointed out that Americans have access to an HPV vaccine that can help prevent many of these infections.
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“If you are under 45 and have not been vaccinated against HPV, there is some good safety data that says you should get vaccinated,” he said. “This will cover, at least in the United States, most risks related to oropharyngeal, vaginal, cervical, penile and anal cancers.”
“There are steps we can take as doctors to keep you safe and hopefully reduce the risk of developing cancer for those who have had an infection,” said one oncologist. (iStock)
The doctor reiterated that developing one of the listed infections does not necessarily mean a person will develop cancer.
“The vast majority of patients who have HPV or H. Pylori infection, or even hepatitis B or C, will not develop cancer,” he said.
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But because these infections have been linked to certain cancers, it is important to seek treatment.
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Symptoms such as epigastric pain (pain or discomfort in the upper-middle abdomen), acid reflux, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or pain when swallowing could be linked to medical conditions that may be associated with certain infections or cancers, the doctor warned.
“There are steps we can take as doctors to keep you safe and hopefully reduce the risk of developing cancer for those who have had an infection,” Cohen added.
Gn Health
