Gardasil Vaccination Caution and Vaccine Adolescent Males for Throat Cancer

In June 8, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration approved Gardasil manufactured by Merck and Company, as vaccination protect against four strains (types 16, 18, 6 and 11) of HPV (Human papillomavirus), a virus transmitted through skin to skin sexual contact, and effective only for females age 9 - 26 (1). The vaccination consists of a series of three injections (12). Seventy percent of HPV-related cervical cancer (malignant cancer of the cervix (Narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina - (2)) cases linked to types 16 and 18 of HPV (1). Expected the vaccination will reduce, approximately a third of a billion women deaths each year from cervical cancer (3). Also, human pappilomavirus types 6 and 11 protect against ninety percent of genital wart cases (1). "Genital Warts (condyloma) a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) caused by the human Pappilloma Virus (HPV)". The virus is contagious during vaginal, anal and sometimes oral sex (4).

National Vaccine Information Center (nonprofit group) reported that Gardasil should not be administered along with meningococcal vaccine, risk serious health concern (5). Meningococcal vaccine administered between 11-12 years old or 15 years old: Prevents meningococcus one of the most infectious diseases -- meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain or infection of the bloodstream) (6). According to the report, fifteen cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) diagnosed when Gardasil and meningococcal vaccine, administered at the same time. Guillain-Barre syndrome disorder known to cause the immune system to attack the nervous system, resulting in muscle weakness and may lead to total paralysis. However, according to Centers of Disease Control, evidence was not compelling enough, preventing Gardasil use with other vaccines (5).

Researcher Erich Sturgis, MD, MPH and co-author Paul M. Cinciripini M.D., from Houston M.D. Anderson Cancer Center - published (October 1, 2007, issue of the journal Cancer)) analysis of head and neck cancer rates in the United States. Surprisingly, the number of throat cancer cases increased, contrary to the downward trend in other head and neck cancers linked to smokers, during the past two decades. Throat cancer (cancer of the oropharynx) includes the tonsils, base of the tongue and soft palate, and side and back of the throat. According to the writers, hypothesis throat cancer cases are likely due to human pappilomavirus (HPV), spread through oral sex. Dr. Sturgis informed WebMD.com, during the past five years, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center treated 35 percent of throat cancer patients, had no medical history of smoking and approximately 90 percent of patients had never showed evidence of smoking, diagnosed having oral infection with HPV. Conclusion of the research, author's analysis HPV throat cancer could be prevented, same approach preventing HPV in females, when vaccinated with Gardasil. (7). Throat cancer affects both sexes (11). According to the authors, Dr. Erich Sturgis and Dr. Paul M. Cinciripini recommend Garddasil vaccination for young adult and adolescent males. Dr. Sturgis said: "Just as cervical cancer is the outcome of a sexually transmitted disease, as are most anal and penile cancers, people need to be aware that they can get throat or tongue cancer as the consequence of sexually transmitted disease. Oral sex can't be considered safe sex" (8). Furthermore, more than 90 percent of HPV positive throat cancer tumors linked to HPV-16 form of the virus, which Merck's Gardasil target strain, besides targeting genital warts. According to American Cancer Society (Atlanta Georgia), approximately 650,000 people worldwide diagnosed with head and neck cancer and 350,000 die from the diseases (9).

However, Debbie Saslow, Ph.D. of the American Cancer Society said presently no clinical proof Gardasil prevents HPV infection for men, despite the vaccine being offered to males in Australia, Mexico and other countries (7). Gardasil being studied to evaluate, if the vaccine protects boys against genital HPV infection (10). Eliav Barr, senior director of clinical research at Merck said the company is conducting clinical trial of Gardasil vaccination in men as old as 26 and expects analysis results to be complete in 2008. The company hopes to seek Food and Drug Administration vaccination approval for boys (13). The vaccine may generate more than $3 billion in annual sales according to financial analysts. (9).

1.) About.com:Cancer - Gardasil HPV Vaccine from Lisa Fayed
2.) Wikipedia -Cervical Cancer and Cervix
3.) Gardasil Watch - News and Analysis on Gardasil
4.) San Francisco Department of Public Health - Genital Warts
5.) abc7chicago.com - Study: Gardasil could cause side effects when given with another vaccine
6.) The Children hospital of Philadelphia - A Look at Each Vaccine - Meningococcus Vaccine
7.) WebMD - HPV/Genital Warts Health Center - Virus Linked to Throat Cancer Trend - Oral Sex Considered a Risk Factor by Salynn Boyles - August 27, 2007
8.) Yahoo! news - Oral Sex Implicated in Some Throat and Neck Cancers by Serene Gordon (Health Reporter) - August 27, 2007
9). Bloomberg.com - Oral-Sex Cancer Link Suggests Boys Need Merck Vaccine (Update 2) by Angela Zimm - August 27, 2007
10.) WebMD - Virus Linked to Throat Cancer Trend - Transmission of HPV Through Oral Sex Considered A Risk Factor - August 27, 2007
11.) MedicineNet.com - Experts Debate HPV Vaccine to Boys by E. J. Mundell - Health Reporter - May 18, 2007
12.) thefreelibrary.com - HPV: boys allowed
13.) USAToday.com - Q & A: Cervical cancer vaccine - updated 6/08/2006