The HPV Vaccine Proves Overwhelming Success

For the first time, a large population-wide study of young women found no new cases of cervical cancer among those who received a vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV). Published earlier this year in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the study, conducted in Scotland, is the first to monitor a national cohort of women all of whom received the HPV vaccine between the ages of 12 and 13 and were born between 1988 and 1996.

"I think the findings are promising and exciting," says Peter Frederick, MD, FACOG, Clinical Chief of Gynecology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. "As these individuals age, we'll be able to collect more and more information, because in the majority of patients, it takes many years for cancer to develop after cancer-causing HPV is acquired."

The Scotland study followed women currently between the ages of 28 and 36. In the United States, most women who develop cervical cancer are a little older, between the ages of 35 and 44, according to Dr. Frederick. "What the study shows is that in the people who got the vaccine at the age of 12 or 13, none went on to develop cervical cancer," he says.

The study also revealed that among women vaccinated between the ages of 14 and 22, the likelihood of developing cervical cancer was 2.5 times lower than in the unvaccinated population. "That's a lot lower number than you would predict and significantly fewer cases compared to the unvaccinated group," Dr. Frederick adds.

HPV causes cervical cancer and other types of cancers. These include head and neck cancers, tongue cancer, vulvar cancer, anal cancer, and penile cancer. Effective vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of these cancers.

Dr. Frederick emphasizes the importance of increasing vaccination rates. Currently, only 25% of Erie County adolescents have completed the HPV vaccine series, compared to countries like Australia, where vaccination rates exceed 80%. High vaccination coverage significantly lowers HPV infection and related cancers.

"As a cancer surgeon, I’ve seen the devastating effects of cervical cancer f irsthand. Vaccinating children—and ensuring they complete the series —is a simple yet powerful step parents can take to protect them," Dr. Frederick says.