New research has linked 12% of cancer cases to infections: what does this mean? | In Focus Podcast
Dr Rajeev Jayadevan explains what the new study linking a number of cancer cases with infections signifies, details how vaccines can help with certain infections, why low- and middle- income countries may be more vulnerable, and what preventive strategies can be taken.
A recent study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has revealed that infections are responsible for 12% of all new cancer cases globally in 2024, amounting to 2.3 million cases. These infections are primarily caused by bacteria and several viruses. Surprisingly, a significant proportion of these cases occurred in low- and middle-income countries. The cancers linked to infectious agents include those of the liver, stomach, and cervix, among others.
It raises the question of whether vaccines could eliminate these cancer types. Currently, vaccines exist for some of the viruses associated with these cancers, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for cervical cancer. However, vaccines for other viruses and bacteria that cause cancer are not yet available.
To address this issue, the study suggests that preventive measures such as screening programmes could be crucial. Early detection of infected individuals and timely intervention could potentially reduce the incidence of cancer caused by infections. However, the availability and accessibility of vaccines, screening programmes, and preventive measures may vary significantly across different countries, particularly in low- and middle-income regions where the majority of these cancer cases are found.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
