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May 30, 2023 – The human papilloma virus (HPV) has been linked to different types of cancer. Almost all cervical cancers, for example, are caused by HPV. New research is now looking to get a clear picture of how HPV might play a role in the development of another form of the disease – breast cancer.
According to a recent study from Mexico, HPV has been found in cancerous breast tissue, as well as in malignant tumors and non-malignant breast disease. Of 116 breast tissue samples examined by the researchers, 20% of the cancerous samples contained HPV, as did 35% of the non-cancerous samples. Additionally, 27% of breast cancer biopsies studied contained HPV. Although they did not find that HPV was a direct cause of all breast cancers, researchers believe that the persistent presence of HPV in the mammary glands may trigger a process that turns normal cells abnormal and then cancerous.
More new research finds that HPV can affect a specific immune data receptor – known as the Toll-like receptor 9 – present in different cancers. In triple negative breast cancer, low levels of this receptor can mean a poor outcome for a patient. This study found that the effect of HPV on the receptor could influence the outlook and treatment of breast cancer patients, although the study was small, and its authors stress that more research is needed. .
The need to find a clear link between HPV and breast cancer is very important.
“Looking at the literature, there’s a lot of conflicting data on the role of HPV in breast cancer,” said Ann H. Klopp, MD, PhD, professor of oncological radiology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas at Houston, and co-lead of his Moon Shot on HPV-related cancers. “It’s really not well established. This is very different from cancers of the cervix, head and neck, anus, vagina and vulva where HPV is very clearly associated with the development of these cancers.
Let’s take a closer look at what our current understanding of a potential link between HPV and breast cancer might mean, and how to best protect yourself from both conditions.
What are the symptoms of HPV?
Your immune system can stop an HPV infection before it even shows symptoms. Otherwise, you will notice warts on your skin. There are four kinds warts that indicate HPV:
- Genital warts, which may look like flat lesions, may be cauliflower-shaped or may appear to have stems. These can also appear on or near your anus.
- Common warts, which appear as rough, raised bumps on your hands and fingers
- Plantar warts – hard growths that appear on your feet
- Flat warts, which may look slightly raised and appear anywhere on your body.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
According to the CDC, different people may have different symptoms of the disease. If you have HPV, this will not impact the type of symptoms you may have if you have breast cancer.
Watch for these signs:
- A new lump in your breast or armpit
- Swelling of the breasts or dimpling of the skin
- Irritation or red, scaly skin on your breasts or nipple area
- Any blood coming from your nipple, or any discharge or liquid that is not breast milk
- Your nipple pulls inward or your breast changes shape or size
- Pain in the breasts or nipples
How does HPV cause cancer?
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is actually a group of over 200 viruses that are transmitted through sexual contact. Almost all sexually active people are infected with HPV, and 50% of these people have cases of HPV that are considered “high risk”, meaning it could lead to cancer. If you have HPV in your body for many years, it could cause certain cells in your body to change causing malignant tumors. In addition to cervical cancer, mouth cancer, throat cancer, vulvar cancer, penile cancerAnd vaginal cancer have all been previously established as being related to HPV.
In the case of breast cancer, two high risk strains HPV in breast cancer samples have been detected. HPV is thought to be transmitted to breast cells skin-to-skin contact by hands or mouth during sexual contact.
This is thought to be likely because the milk ducts in the breast are open and therefore could be the easiest entry point for HPV.
Can the HPV vaccine protect against breast cancer?
Some research showed that the vaccine could be a useful prevention tool in the future.
“The prevalence of HPV in breast cancer, as found in our study, indicates that HPV vaccination may protect women from breast cancer, as well as cervical cancer and other related cancers. to HPV,” said Chinmay Kumar Panda, Ph.D.Principal Investigator and Senior Deputy Director of Department of Oncogene Regulation at National Cancer Institute, Chittaranjan in West Bengal, India.
Again, more research is needed on this, as well as research that might determine if giving the HPV vaccine after a woman has been diagnosed with breast cancer might be helpful.
“I think there’s no evidence of that at the moment,” Klopp said. “Absolutely, however, the HPV vaccine prevents people from getting all HPV-related cancers, including cancers of the cervix, head and neck, anus, vagina, and vagina. vulva.”
The HPV vaccine is primarily recommended for everyone up to age 26. If you are at risk of contracting a new HPV infection, you can receive the vaccine until the age of 45. Condoms are also an important tool to prevent new HPV infections.
Should I get screened for breast cancer if I have HPV?
Currently, HPV is not a risk factor as described in the American Cancer Societyscreening guidelines. But you should have regular mammograms. Clinical exams and self-exams can also be helpful – ask your doctor which forms of early detection are right for you.
The Bottom Line: There’s a lot more to learn about the potential link between HPV and breast cancer. Focusing on reducing your risk of HPV, as well as monitoring your breast health, is your best strategy, now and in the future.
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Sources 2/ https://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/hpv-genital-warts/news/20230530/research-shows-possible-link-between-hpv-and-breast-cancer The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
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