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Infections Drive 12% of Global Cancers: WHO Study
7 Oct
Summary
- About 12% of 2024's global cancer cases were linked to infections.
- Five pathogens, including HPV and hepatitis B, cause most infection-linked cancers.
- Many infection-caused cancers are preventable through vaccination and treatment.
New research from the World Health Organization indicates that infections likely caused around 12% of all global cancer cases in 2024. The study, published in The Lancet Oncology, identified 2.3 million new cancer cases linked to infections, with Helicobacter pylori, HPV, hepatitis B, Epstein-Barr virus, and hepatitis C being the primary culprits. These pathogens can lead to over 20 different cancer types, including stomach, liver, blood, and cervical cancers.
Viruses can cause cancer by altering host cell genes, disabling natural cell death or division controls, inserting their DNA into the host, or carrying oncogenes. Bacterial and parasitic infections, like H. pylori, can also contribute indirectly through chronic inflammation and tissue stress, leading to DNA damage and cell division errors. This connection underscores that many cancers are preventable.
Preventative strategies, such as the HPV vaccine in Australia, have shown significant success in reducing infection rates and are crucial for cancer prevention. However, approximately 75% of infection-caused cancers occur in low- and middle-income countries, where access to treatments and preventative programs remains a significant equity challenge.
