Can Cancer Be Prevented

Can Cancer Be Prevented

"About 12 million people each year are diagnosed with cancer, about 20% of cases can be attributed to bacterial and viral infections that cause or increase the risk of contracting this disease," said David Hill, President of the International Union against cancer on the occasion of the world day against the disease, which the Association devotes this year the ratio of infections and cancer. A clear example in this direction is represented by the cervical cancer that is responsible for the human papilloma virus. But cancer caused by viral or bacterial infections can be prevented and, in the case of Hpv a strategy available, in addition to vaccination, Hpv Dna test, which has just received an important legitimacy from a study conducted by Italian Ntcc Group (New Technologies for Cervical Cancer Screening) and published in Lancet Oncology. The test is significantly more effective in preventing invasive cervical cancer than the traditional Pap smears. To learn more about the relationship between Hpv and cervical cancer and Hpv Dna test, Dica33 interviewed Massimo Origoni, Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Università Vita Salute San Raffaele in Milan.

Professor Origoni, what is the relationship between Human Papillomavirus and cervical cancer?

Is a very important report, I would say crucial, because today we can say with certainty that "HPV is the cause for the development of cervical carcinoma"; Obviously it is not the only factor in play, for example, turns out to be crucial to the role of the immune system, but it is just as certain that we can affirm that "there is no HPV carcinoma". Cervical cancer is caused by certain types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) defined "high-risk", who are able, once entered into relationship with the cells of the lining of the cervix, trigger mechanisms for nuclear-level transformation, initially determine the appearance of dysplasia (pretumorali) and then invasive cancer. It has been shown that these cellular changes in the cervix, if not treated in time, may lead to cancer. The Papillomavirus, then, has been recognized by the international scientific community as the real cause of cancer of the cervix.

As it turns out to have contracted the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?

Papillomavirus infection is asymptomatic in most cases, and usually, a high percentage of cases resolves spontaneously without a trace. However, even when the virus is not eliminated and causes significant alterations of the cervical cells, very often there are no symptoms manifests. The presence of Human Papillomavirus in female genital tract, in the absence of precise indications, is almost always an occasional feedback, for example in the course of screening with the Pap smear which indicates only the diagnostic suspicion. The true diagnosis of HPV infection can only be made with biomolecular techniques, such as the HPV DNA test, which is available from some years in Italy. This test, based on the technology of DNA identification of the virus makes it possible to detect the presence of Papillomavirus types 13 "high risk".

Why is it important to early diagnosis of HPV infection?

Know that HPV is present in the cells of the cervix by a patient, and even more to know that there are strains "at high risk", enables the gynaecologist to undertake a diagnostic process, in order to determine if the infection has already determined whether or not the transformation of infected cells; If these changes are detected early, it is possible to intervene specifically and very timely, interrupting the natural history of HPV disease, thus preventing the development of cancer. Since there is no specific treatment for the Papillomavirus, as happens for all viruses, the concept of early diagnosis is crucial because it allows an efficient concrete secondary prevention. In this context the HPV DNA test join full and fills a series of shortcomings still diagnostic noticeable through the traditional diagnostic methods in use. It is important to underline that the positivity of HPV test if any DNA "does not mean you have a tumor," but it means having timely all the appropriate tools to prevent the cancer develops.