Healthcare Updates » Cervical Cancer

Cervical Cancer Vaccine Gardacil Recommended for Approval by FDA

anna_dabney — Wed, 31 May 2006 03:55:29 +0000

In a unanimous vote, an FDA advisory committee recently voted to endorse the safety and effectiveness of Gardasil. The new vaccine developed by Merck Pharmaceuticals has been shown to protect women from two types of the human papilloma virus, responsible for about 70% of cervical cancer cases. The potential to cut worldwide deaths from the disease is huge.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease, affecting an estimated 50% of sexually active adults. Each year, cervical cancer kills 290,000 women worldwide. About 3,500 of the annual deaths occur in the U.S., where many women have the opportunity for early detection through regular pap smears. Treatment for precancerous lesions and early cervical cancer greatly reduce mortality rates in the U.S..

Gardasil is the first vaccine known to prevent cervical cancer. If approved by the FDA, the Merck vaccine could be the biggest advance in eradicating cervical cancer since the pap test was introduced decades ago.

Merck recommends using the vaccine in females age 9 to 26. Gardasil can be most effective if young girls are vaccinated before they became sexually active. The vaccine is not intended to take the place of regular cervical screening.

The FDA is expected to endorse the use of the vaccine at a June meeting. If approval is given, a national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will decide whether to advocate routine vaccination with Gardasil.

Source: CNN.com

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Cervical Biopsy Poses only Very Small Risk to Future Pregnancy

anna_dabney — Wed, 10 May 2006 17:40:14 +0000

Women who have abnormal Pap or cervical smear tests are usually sent for further investigation. Doctors use one of four different techniques to remove suspicious cells for further examination. All have been shown to be equally successful in preventing progression to cervical cancer. Women should be aware, however, that three of the techniques carry a small risk of complications with a future pregnancy.

In Great Britain, researchers from the Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire analyzed results from 27 studies. They looked at various treatments used to remove abnormal cells and sometimes a margin of healthy cells around them. Their conclusions were published in the Lancet medical journal.

Laser ablation, which destroys the abnormal cells, was the only treatment not linked to any pregnancy risks. Cold knife conisation uses a scapel to remove a cone-shaped wedge of tissue, and laser conisation employs the laser to do the same thing. Researchers found that in subsequent pregnancies, cold knife conisation increased the risk of giving birth prematurely, of having a low birthweight baby, or needing a Caesarean. Laser conisation had similar risks, although not to the same extent.

The most common procedure, called LLETZ (large loop excision of the transformation zone), removes the area with abnormal cells from the cervix by employing a small tool and electric current. This procedure was also found to raise the risks of having a premature or small baby. In addition, it increased the chances of early rupturing of membranes.

Professor Peter Sasieni, a UK cancer research expert, stressed the importance of women being aware of potential side-effects. They should discuss various options with their doctor prior to treatment for cervical precancerous cells. The most important consideration is that a woman gets the treatment she needs to prevent cervical cancer.Â The chances of pregnancy risks are very small, he concluded.

Source:Â BBC News
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New Cervical Cancer Vaccine Treatment Shows Promise

anna_dabney — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 15:51:04 +0000

A new cancer vaccine still in the experimental stages appears to provide protection against several strains of cervical cancer for up to five years. Results of a study of 1,100 women to test the efficacy of the vaccine Cervarix were published in the April 6 issue of The Lancet.
At 4.5 years, the vaccine was still protecting all women who received the vaccine, according to study author Dr. Diane Harper. Cervarix is designed to protect against human papilloma virus (HPV) types 16 and 18, responsible for about 70 percent of cervical cancers.

The vaccine seems to offer similar protection against HPV types 45 and 31, which can also trigger cervical cancer, the second most common malignant disease in women worldwide. Spread by sexual contact, human papilloma viruses are the main cause of cervical cancer.

Women taking part in the study received either three doses of Cervarix or a placebo. Those who got the vaccine had no more long-term side effects than those getting the placebo injection.

Cervarix is yet to be approved for general use on the market. Preliminary results show from antibody levels tested that protection remains unchanged nearly five years later. Further investigation of the new vaccine will take place before the vaccine is approved for widespread use.Â Â Â

A similar vaccine called Gardasil is awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Gardasil is thought to protect against HPV 16 and 18 as well as HPV 6 and 11, which account for about 90% of genital warts.

Gardasil could be on the market later this year and would likely be given to women in their late teens or early 20s. Cervical cancer is often diagnosed at a younger age than any other cancers.

Source:Â MedicineNet.com

Also see the latest news and discoveriesÂ for GardasilÂ