The future of 'cancer vaccines'

Even though the phrase 'cancer vaccine' is a bit misleading, the HPV vaccines on the horizon will likely call attention to other cancers linked closely with viruses and bacteria. In theory, vaccines could be able to reduce the incidence of these cancers just as HPV vaccines appear to prevent most cervical cancers.

Today's Telegraph reports that Cancer Research UK has recently explored the topic. Their key findings:

"One in 10 cancers could be prevented by vaccines and they estimate that a quarter of cancers in the developing world are triggered by a handful of infections."

"The global number of virus-associated cancer accounts for more than 1.8 million cases of cancer each year - which is around 18 per cent of all new cancer cases worldwide."

The key contributors to this number are cervical cancer and some types of liver cancer (for which HPV and Hepatitis B vaccines are already available or will be soon). Less prevalent viral or bacterial-related cancers include cancer of nasal passages, some lymphomas, rare forms of leukemia, and many cases of stomach cancer, the story notes.