HPV Oral Cancer: Low Risk for HPV Transmission

Source: MedScapeBy: Zosia ChusteckaPublished: June 6, 2013  CHICAGO, Illinois — Because human papillomavirus (HPV) is transmitted through sexual contact, patients with HPV-related cancer often ask whether their partners are at risk and whether they should they change their sexual practices. For patients with HPV-related oral cancers, data from the Human Oral Papillomavirus Transmission in Partners Over Time (HOTSPOT) study, presented here at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO®), will be reassuring. In the small pilot study of 166 patients with HPV-related oral cancer and 94 long-term partners, researchers measured HPV DNA in oral rinse samples taken at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. The results show that the partners do not appear to be at increased risk for HPV infection, so they are not at increased risk for HPV-related oral cancer, the researchers conclude. "This is reassuring for patients and their partners," said lead author Gypsyamber D'Souza, PhD, MPH, MS, from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. At a press briefing, she explained that patients are often anxious about this issue, and has heard of instances where it has led to divorce. "Couples who have been together for several years have likely already shared whatever infections they have and no changes in their physical intimacy are needed." However, "with new partners, caution is always advised," she added. Results Not Surprising The results are not surprising, Otis Brawley, MD, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, told Medscape Medical News. [...]