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Review
. 2015 Jun 15;136(12):2752-60.
doi: 10.1002/ijc.29082. Epub 2014 Jul 26.

EUROGIN 2014 roadmap: differences in human papillomavirus infection natural history, transmission and human papillomavirus-related cancer incidence by gender and anatomic site of infection

Anna R Giuliano  1 , Alan G Nyitray, Aimée R Kreimer, Christine M Pierce Campbell, Marc T Goodman, Staci L Sudenga, Joseph Monsonego, Silvia Franceschi
Affiliations
Review

EUROGIN 2014 roadmap: differences in human papillomavirus infection natural history, transmission and human papillomavirus-related cancer incidence by gender and anatomic site of infection

Anna R Giuliano et al. Int J Cancer. .

Abstract

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause cancer at multiple anatomic sites in men and women, including cervical, oropharyngeal, anal, vulvar and vaginal cancers in women and oropharyngeal, anal and penile cancers in men. In this EUROGIN 2014 roadmap, differences in HPV-related cancer and infection burden by gender and anatomic site are reviewed. The proportion of cancers attributable to HPV varies by anatomic site, with nearly 100% of cervical, 88% of anal and <50% of lower genital tract and oropharyngeal cancers attributable to HPV, depending on world region and prevalence of tobacco use. Often, mirroring cancer incidence rates, HPV prevalence and infection natural history varies by gender and anatomic site of infection. Oral HPV infection is rare and significantly differs by gender; yet, HPV-related cancer incidence at this site is several-fold higher than at either the anal canal or the penile epithelium. HPV seroprevalence is significantly higher among women compared to men, likely explaining the differences in age-specific HPV prevalence and incidence patterns observed by gender. Correspondingly, among heterosexual partners, HPV transmission appears higher from women to men. More research is needed to characterize HPV natural history at each anatomic site where HPV causes cancer in men and women, information that is critical to inform the basic science of HPV natural history and the development of future infection and cancer prevention efforts.

Keywords: cancer; epidemiology; gender differences; human papillomavirus; natural history.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: No other authors reported conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proportion of total cancer cases attributable to HPV (population-attributable fractions [%]) in women and men by geographical region/country (modified from refs –12).
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Genital HPV incidence among men and women by age (B) Duration of genital HPV infections among men and women by age (modified from refs. 19, 21, 22).
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Genital HPV incidence among men and women by age (B) Duration of genital HPV infections among men and women by age (modified from refs. 19, 21, 22).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean prevalence of select anal HPV groups and HPV-16 among HIV-negative men and women in studies with sample sizes ≥ 100 persons. (modified from refs. , , , , , , , , –53).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Differences in HPV 16 seroprevalence by gender (modified from refs. –91).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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