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One in Eight Cancers Linked to Infections, Analysis Finds

The Lancet Oncology study links nearly all infection-related cancers to five pathogens and urges expanded vaccines, diagnostics and treatments to cut preventable cases.

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Illustration von Lymphozyten (gelb), die eine Krebszelle (grün) angreifen
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Overview

  • A global analysis in The Lancet Oncology estimates infections caused about 12% of cancers diagnosed in 2024, roughly 2.3 million cases worldwide.
  • The study attributes nearly all infection‑linked cancers to five agents: Helicobacter pylori (≈760,000 cases), HPV (≈750,000), HBV (≈360,000), EBV (≈260,000) and HCV (≈160,000).
  • About 77% of those cases occur in low- and middle-income countries, with heavy concentrations in East Asia, sub‑Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, driven by unequal access to prevention and care.
  • The authors highlight a prevention gap: proven tools such as HPV and HBV vaccines and curative HCV treatments are underused where they are needed most, for example HPV first-dose coverage is about 30% for eligible girls in parts of sub‑Saharan Africa.
  • The report raises EBV’s role in cancer compared with past estimates and notes there is no approved EBV vaccine while several trials are under way, and it calls for renewed investment in EBV and H. pylori vaccines, diagnostics and delivery systems.