Type 2 Diabetes Linked to Higher Cancer Rates, Study Finds
Researcher Tinne Laurberg told Newsweek that the gap has become "more pronounced in recent years."
A recent study from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) revealed that one in eight cancer cases worldwide in 2024 are linked to infectious diseases, amounting to 2.3 million new cases or 12 percent of total cases. Five specific infections, namely Helicobacter pylori, human papillomavirus, hepatitis B virus, Epstein–Barr virus, and hepatitis C virus, were identified as the primary contributors.
The report's findings, published in Lancet Oncology on September 28, suggest that a substantial portion of the global cancer burden can be prevented through improved infection control measures. Dr. Patrick Moore, from the University of Pittsburgh, emphasized that the IARC's estimates may be conservative, hinting at a potentially larger fraction of cancers caused by infection.
Dr. Karl Munger, a Tufts University professor, noted that the IARC's figure is lower than expected, with other analyses suggesting infection-associated cancers account for 15 to 20 percent of global cases. Among the leading infectious causes of cancer in 2024, H. pylori was responsible for around 760,000 cases, primarily gastric cancer; HPV for about 750,000 cases, mostly cervical cancer and other related malignancies; HBV for approximately 360,000 cases, chiefly liver cancer; EBV for around 260,000 cases, primarily nasopharyngeal cancer, gastric cancers, and Hodgkin lymphoma; and HCV for about 160,000 cases, mostly liver cancer.
The study also highlighted significant regional disparities, with Eastern Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and South-East Asia experiencing the highest burden of cancer linked to infections. H. pylori and HBV were notably prevalent in Eastern Asia, while HPV-related cancers and infections caused by HIV and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus were predominant in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr. Shan-Lu Liu, a researcher at Ohio State University, found the results striking and encouraging, emphasizing that many of these cancers are preventable through vaccination, infection control, screening, and treatment. However, he pointed out that these interventions are often underused or inaccessible, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, due to financial, social, and political barriers.
The researchers at IARC acknowledged that while effective prevention tools exist, including vaccines against HPV and HBV, testing, and treatment for infections like H. pylori, HBV, HCV, and HIV, their widespread implementation remains a significant challenge.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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