Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Cancer

Many years of research has demonstrated that certain types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) are involved in the development of cervical cancer. Actually, you cannot develop cervical cancer or precursor lesions without a previous genital HPV infection. Fortunately, the opposite is not the case - an HPV infection does not entail cancer. The vast majority of genital HPV infections clear without any consequences.

The unit's research in HPV spans more than 20 years and the unit has contributed to the knowledge of this area, which among other things has resulted in the existence of a vaccine against HPV and therefore against cervical cancer.
Besides cervical cancer, HPV plays a part in the development of other forms of cancer. This concerns cancer in the external female genitals, penile cancer, anal cancer, and certain types of cancer in the head and neck area. Finally, some types of skin cancer are suspected to be caused by HPV in connection with exposure to sunlight.

HPV infection is present in men as well as in women, but is investigated most thoroughly in women due to the increased risk of cervical cancer. In our unit we have also investigated the incidence of the HPV infection among men, in Denmark as well as in Tanzania. Currently, a large prospective study of 4,000 women in Tanzania is ongoing, investigating the natural history of HPV and cervical neoplasia, and the interaction with HIV.

Contacts:

Christian Munk, munk@cancer.dk
Susanne Krüger Kjær, susanne@cancer.dk