Infections of viral, bacterial or parasitic origin were linked to approximately 2.3 million new cancer cases worldwide in 2024 — about 12% of all diagnosed cases. These conclusions were reached by the authors of an analysis published on September 28 in The Lancet Oncology, Live Science reports.
The researchers used data from the Global Cancer Observatory GLOBOCAN, according to which around 20 million new cancer cases were diagnosed worldwide in 2024. They compared this information with published data on the prevalence of infections among people with certain cancers and estimated the number of cases linked to each pathogen.
The analysis covered 12 pathogens linked to cancer. About 92% of all infection-related cancer cases were attributable to four pathogens. The largest number of cases — approximately 760,000, mostly stomach cancer — was linked to the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which affects the gastrointestinal tract.
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, was linked to approximately 750,000 cases, including cancers of the cervix, penis, throat and oral cavity. Hepatitis B virus was linked to 360,000 cases, and Epstein-Barr virus to 260,000. The latter increases the risk of throat cancer, some lymphomas and stomach cancer.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Low- and middle-income countries account for 77% of the global burden of infection-related cancer. These countries accounted, in particular, for around 81% of HPV-related cancers.
According to the World Health Organization, in 2024 only 31% of adolescent girls eligible for vaccination worldwide received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. This is below the 90% target. The hepatitis B vaccine can also prevent infection and related cancers.
There is currently no approved vaccine for the Epstein-Barr virus. Meanwhile, scientists are studying mass testing and treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection to prevent stomach cancer. The actual scale of the infection-related cancer burden may be greater: the registries used in the study cover data on only around 19% of the world's population and 2% of Africa's population.
Source: UA
