Possible Viral Links to Lung Cancer Risk Uncovered
Posted on 25 Apr, 2008
2 studies find connection between measles, HPV & most common lung cancer
Although smoking is well-established as an independent risk factor for lung cancer, 2 new studies suggest that 2 different viral infections might boost a smoker’s already substantial risk for developing the disease.
The findings were presented by separate research teams at the 2008 European Lung Cancer Conference in Geneva on April 25.
While the specific viruses at issue --- human papillomavirus (HPV) & measles --- may not directly cause lung cancer, they seem to aggravate the negative impact of tobacco.
Both studies specifically focused on the viral impact on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) risk. 85% to 90% of all lung cancers are of this variety.
U.S. researchers analyzed lung tissue samples taken from 23 lung cancer patients in Kentucky. Kentucky is the state with the highest rate of adult & teenage smoking in the U.S., as well as the highest rate of NSCLC.
Among the patients (all of whom were smokers) 4 were found positive for infection with a variety of HPV strains. The authors said this frequency of infection “supports the assumption that HPV contributes to the development of NSCLC”.
Further studies are planned to look for signs of HPV infection in the respiratory tract of lung cancer patients & to explore the possibility for using HPV infection as a screening indicator for the disease.
HPV is already known to be the cause of all cases of cervical cancer (a vaccine is now available – see START LIVING Issue 12 ). It has also recently been implicated as a possible cause for head & neck cancer.
Israeli researchers analyzed lung tissue samples taken from 65 lung cancer patients between the ages of 40 & 84. 90% were smokers, & most were in the early stages of the disease.
The researchers found evidence of measles infection in 54% of the patients (including asymptomatic infection). The likelihood of viral infection, they observed, went up with age. They concluded that “a possible association” exists between measles & NSCLC.
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