12% of Global Cancer Cases Linked to Infections
Another approximately 2% of cancer cases are linked to the hepatitis B virus. The Epstein-Barr virus and the hepatitis C virus also joined the top five main causes; like hepatitis B, hepatitis C causes chronic liver damage and increases the risk of cancer in this organ.
Consensus
- Approximately 12% of all new cancer cases worldwide are associated with infections.
- The majority of infection-related cancer cases are caused by five pathogens.
- Helicobacter pylori is the leading infectious cause of cancer, linked to about 760,000 new cases annually.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for approximately 750,000 cancer cases each year.
- Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are each associated with around 2% of global cancer cases.
- The Epstein-Barr virus is one of the five main infection-related cancer causes.
- Chronic liver damage from hepatitis B and C increases the risk of liver cancer.
- Infection-related cancers are most prevalent in low- and middle-income countries.
- The highest number of infection-related cancer cases is recorded in East Asia.
- Vaccines exist for HPV and hepatitis B, and H. pylori can be detected and treated.
- Prevention and early treatment of infections can reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Points of divergence
- The study was published in The Lancet Oncology. — vesti
- The study was published in The Lancet. — vm
- A doctor named Olga Chistik reminded the public about the importance of monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels after age 40. — vm
- The Russian Ministry of Health has issued new guidelines for medical check-ups and health screenings, including testing for lipoprotein (a) and lipid profile. — vm
Coverage (3 sources)
- Infections linked to 12% of cancer cases worldwide in 2024 — РИАМО
- Infections named cause of 12% of new cancer cases — Вести
- The Lancet: 12 percent of all new cancer cases worldwide are linked to infections — Вечерняя Москва