A new vaccine designed to protect against the human papilloma virus prevents 90 per cent of cervical cancers, scientists have claimed
The vast majority of cervical cancers could be prevented thanks to a new vaccine designed to target the human papilloma virus, scientists claim.
The new vaccine offers significantly greater protection than the current vaccine, Gardasil, which protects against only two cancer-causing types of HPV.
In the UK, the current vaccine is offered to girls aged 12-13; in the US, HPV vaccines are offered to those aged 11 and 12.
The new jab protects against nine strains of the virus, seven of which cause most cases of cervical cancer.
Scientists at Queen Mary University in London found the new vaccine, Gardasil 9, is 97 per cent effective at protecting against high-grade cervical, vulvar and vaginal disease caused by five types of HPV.
It is also as effective as the current vaccine in preventing diseases triggered by four HPV strains.
Scientists examined the vaccine's effectiveness when given to more than 14,200 women, aged 16 to 26 years old.
Professor Jack Cuzick from the university, who co-authored the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, said: 'This is a significant achievement.
'The new vaccine, Gardasil 9, is not only safe but will offer greatly improved protection against cervical and other cancers.
'Eventually this will mean less screening is needed, as women will have greater protection from the outset.
He added: 'Gardasil 9 offers the potential to increase overall cervical cancer prevention from 70 to 90 per cent, nearly eliminating this cancer among vaccinated women.
'However, it's crucial to remember that vaccination must be done before exposure to the virus.
'Our focus for prevention must be on girls aged 12 to 13, as the current UK vaccine programme is doing, but the vaccine may also be appropriate for women 25 to 45 as part of a screening appointment.'
Until late last year there were just two vaccines available globally to protect against HPV related diseases.
In the UK, Gardasil is used to protect against four types and offers around 70 per cent protection against cervical cancer.
It also significantly reduces the risk of other types of cancer and genital warts.
However, scientists have been trying to find a way of completely eliminating cervical cancer and other HPV related diseases by adding five more cancer-inducing HPV strains.
Gardasil 9 marks an important step in that direction, the researchers said.
HPV is the most commonly sexually transmitted virus.
Many people who are infected clear the virus from their systems with no lasting health complications and most types of the virus are low risk, causing warts or verrucas.
Gardasil is given to girls aged 12 and 13 as a vaccination against HPV. But the new version, Gardasil 9 is a 'significant achievement' experts said, adding it will mean fewer women need to take part in screening programmes in future
But other types are deemed high risk, causing cervical cancer, and in fewer cases vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal and throat cancers.
The majority of cervical cancer cases occur as a result of infection with high risk strains of HPV.
Cervical cancer remains the fourth most common cancer in women across the world, with more than half a million cases and 250,000 deaths each year worldwide.
In the UK around 3,000 women a year are diagnosed with cervical cancer and in 2011 there were around 970 deaths.
In Britain all girls aged 12 to 13 are offered the HPV vaccine as part of the NHS Childhood vaccination programme.
Professor Cuzick added: 'Following these important findings, this vaccine has been licensed in the USA and approval is currently being sought in the UK and other countries.
'It is encouraging that the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation is reviewing Gardasil 9 in light of this new evidence.'
Last December, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Gardasil 9 for use in girls aged nine to 26 and men aged nine to 15.
Around 3,000 cases of cervical cancer, pictured under the microscope, are diagnosed each year in the UK
WHAT IS THE HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS?
What is HPV?
The human papilloma virus is the name given to a group of viruses that affect a person's skin as well as the membranes lining the body - for example, in the cervix, anus, mouth and throat.
HPV is very common and highly contagious.
More than three quarters of sexually active women acquiring it at some point in their lives.
And in the U.S. it is the most common sexually-transmitted infection.
The human papilloma virus is a group of more than 100 viruses that affect a person's skin, and membranes lining the cervix, anus, mouth and throat
Most people are oblivious to the fact they have been infected and as a result can pass it on to a partner without realising.
There are more than 100 types of HPV - around 40 of which affect the genital area.
What does HPV infection do?
The majority (nine in 10) of infections disappear of their own accord within two years.
But the other 10 per cent of infections can cause health problems, including:
- genital warts
- cervical cancer
- a type of head and neck cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, in the back of the throat including at the base of the tongue and tonsils in men and women
- anal cancer
- vulva and vaginal cancer
- penile cancer
The types of HPV that cause genital warts are different to those infections that cause cancer.
Other HPV infections can cause more minor problems, including common skin warts and verrucas.
How do people get HPV?
HPV is a sexually-transmitted infections.
In most cases a person will become infected after having vaginal and/or anal sex.
Men and women can also become infected through oral and other sex play.
In many cases a person will not realise they are infected, and can still have HPV years after coming into contact with an infected person.
In very rare cases a pregnant woman can pass HPV to her baby during delivery.
In these cases a child can develop recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), a rare condition where warts grow in the throat.
The HPV vaccine
A national vaccination programme for HPV is in place in the US and UK for girls aged 12 and 13.
Three injections are given within a 12-month period by a nurse.
The vaccine is given at a young age because it needs to be administered before a person comes into contact with HPV.
It has also been found to provide greater immune response in preteens, than it does in older teenagers and young women.
Clinical trials have showed the vaccines provide close to 100 per cent protection against precancers and for HPV4 - genital warts.
Since it was first recommended in 2006, there has been a 56 per cent reduction in HPV infections among teenage girls in the US.
Protection offered should be long-lasting, with trials showing the vaccine lasts in the body for at least 10 years.
HPV vaccination does not replace the need for regular cervical smear tests in women between the age of 25 and 65.
Source: NHS Choices and the CDC
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