Over 50% Of Cervical Cancers Occur In Asian-Pacific Developing Region

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Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Cancer / Oncology;  Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 10 Sep 2006 - 10:00 PDT


According to the Asia Oceania Research Organisation on Genital Infections & Neoplasia (AOGIN) over 50% of all cervical cancers that occur in the developing world do so in the Asian-Pacific region. Consequently, AOGIN has developed an expert multi-disciplinary group with the region, along the lines of EUROGIN (European Research Organization on Genital Infection and Neoplasia).

A new vaccine, Gardasil, has been shown to prevent 70% of all cervical caners and may also able to stop other forms of the disease, said Prof. Ian Frazer, at the AOGIN 2006 Biennial Meeting, Manilla, The Philippines.
(Prof. Ian Frazer is an eminent cancer researcher at the University of Queensland, Australia)

Frazer added "The best estimate at the moment is 10 percent of all cancer is caused by high-risk human papillomavirus, so that's a very major part of the cancer burden. So the ultimate test for the other cancers will be if the vaccine prevents them."

Gardasil was approved by the US FDA. It is a series of three injections, given over a six-month period, for females aged 9-26. In the USA the whole course costs US$380. If the vaccine were available to every 9-26 year old female globally, it is estimated that at least 210,000 lives would be saved each year.

Cervarix, another HPV vaccine being developed by GlaxoSmithkline, may also protect against over 70% of all cervical cancers.

About AOGIN

The Asia Oceania Research Organisation on Genital Infections & Neoplasia (AOGIN) works both with health care professionals and the lay public. It focusses in women's health and collaborates in research, scientific exchanges and education/training. AOGIN brings together clinicians and scientists whose work is related to genital infections and neoplasia.

-- www.aogin.com
-- http://www.gardasil.com

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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