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New
Vaccine for Cervical Cancer Could Prove Useful in Men |
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Doctors hope Merck &
Co.'s Gardasil
human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which
could prevent thousands of cases of cervical cancer annually, can also
benefit men. Specifically, gay men are at an increased risk for anal cancer,
a potentially fatal condition caused by the same HPV types Gardasil targets.
Each year, anal cancer affects about 35 of 100,000 gay men who practice
receptive anal intercourse, and the rate is perhaps double for those with
HIV-weakened immune systems. The rate is similar to cervical cancer rates
before the introduction of Pap smears. Some physicians who treat many gay
men have in recent years advised patients have anal Pap smears to test for
abnormal cell growth.
In Australia and the European Union, Gardasil has been approved for boys
ages 9-15 based on immune response data, though sexual transmission data
have not been established.
The US Food and Drug Administration approved Gardasil for females ages 9-26,
but doctors can prescribe the vaccine for "off label" purposes. "The
approval is for marketing and distribution, but medical providers can use it
in ways they feel [are] appropriate," said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, STD
prevention director for San Francisco's Department of Public Health.
Merck is sponsoring Gardasil efficacy trials involving 4,000 men, including
500 self-identified gay men ages 16-26 who have had no more than five sex
partners. Recruitment has been a challenge, researchers said, since many
people become infected soon after becoming sexually active. Preliminary
results of the trial should be available by the end of next year.
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New York Times
(01.30.07):: David Tuller |
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