Study Looks Into Oral HPV Infections In US Men, Women.

The New York Times (10/16, Bakalar, Subscription Publication) “Well” blog reports that research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicated “11 million men and 3.2 million women in the” US have “oral HPV infections.” Among these individuals, “7 million men and 1.4 million women” have “strains that can cause cancers of the throat, tongue and other areas of the head and neck.” TIME (10/16, Sifferlin) reports that the investigators “note that the number of men with HPV-related cancer of the oropharynx – the tongue, tonsils and back of the throat – has rapidly increased and has already surpassed the incidence of cervical cancer among women.” Reuters(10/16, Rapaport) reports that the research suggested “men were at the highest risk of developing oral HPV when they had oral sex with other men or also had genital HPV infections.”

        CNN (10/16, Scutti) reports the study also found “HPV infections overall and high-risk HPV oral infections in particular were ‘significantly associated’ with cigarette and marijuana use.” While “an HPV vaccine is available for both men and women and can protect against infection...many men are over the eligibility age of 26, and younger men have low vaccination rates.”

        NBC News (10/17, Fox) features information from Dr. Erich Sturgis, professor of head and neck surgery at the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, who highlighted how the center and the American Dental Association are collaborating to prevent oropharyngeal cancers.

        Today at ADA 2017 – America’s Dental Meeting, the ADA and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center are hosting a joint symposium to address the relationship between HPV infection and oropharyngeal cancer.

        The ADA has released an updated oral cancer clinical practice guideline, and Dr. Mark Lingen, chair of the guideline’s expert panel, will present the guideline’s recommendations during a talk, ADA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Evaluation of Oral Cancer (6809), on the ADA Science Institute Stage at ADA 2017 – America’s Dental Meeting on Friday, Oct. 20.

        In addition, the Oral Health Topics on ADA.org and MouthHealthy.org provide information on oral and oropharyngeal cancer for dental professionals and for patients. MouthHealthy.org also provides information for patients on HPV and oral cancer.

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