The epidemic of sexually-transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes genital warts, appears to be causing rising rates of cancer of the mouth, tongue and tonsil, according to a study by Professor Torbjön Ramqvist and colleagues at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.
HPV has just been added to the list of known oral cancer risk factors that include smoking, drinking alcohol, and chewing betel nuts.
The report shows an increasing number of oral cancers related to French-kissing or oral sex with person who is infected with HPV. “We suggest that we are encountering a slow epidemic of mainly sexually transmitted HPV-induced” oral cancers, the report said.
They suggest that changes in sexual behaviour—oral sex has become commonplace, people have more sex partners and are sexually active at a younger age—is helping to increase oral cancer rates.
Researchers observed that cases of throat and mouth cancer are rising in Britain, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States, especially among young people.
The situation is being closely watched by scientists who point out that there are now vaccines for girls and young women against HPV.
If the vaccine is found effective against mouth and throat cancer tumours, health officials should consider expanding vaccination against HPV infection to include boys and men, they said.