Houston: People infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are two to five times more likely to develop certain head and neck cancers, a new study has warned.
The findings could have significant implications for both the screening of those with the virus and the treatment of those with head and neck cancers, researchers said.
In the last few years, new antiviral drugs have made it possible to cure more than 90 per cent of the HCV population.
"Now that many with hepatitis C can be cured, it is important that we first address and potentially cure the virus, so that they can have access to necessary cancer therapy," said Harrys A Torres from University of Texas in the US.
"Our findings tell us that the association between hepatitis C and oropharyngeal and nonoropharyngeal cancers is as high as its link to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma," he added.
Nonoropharyngeal cancers include those occurring in the oral cavity, nasal cavity and larynx.
Researchers included 409 head and neck cancer patients as case subjects (164 with oropharyngeal and 245 with nonoropharyngeal).
The study found that 14 per cent of patients with oropharyngeal cancers tested positive for HCV antibodies, compared to just 6.5 per cent in the control group. In those with nonoropharyngeal cancer, 20 per cent tested positive for HCV antibodies.
As many as 145 of all the oropharyngeal cancer patients were also tested for human papillomavirus (HPV), allowing researchers to compare possible associations between the two viruses. Patients with HCV-positive head and neck cancers were more likely to also test positive for HPV.
The findings were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
The findings could have significant implications for both the screening of those with the virus and the treatment of those with head and neck cancers, researchers said.
In the last few years, new antiviral drugs have made it possible to cure more than 90 per cent of the HCV population.
"Now that many with hepatitis C can be cured, it is important that we first address and potentially cure the virus, so that they can have access to necessary cancer therapy," said Harrys A Torres from University of Texas in the US.
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"Our findings tell us that the association between hepatitis C and oropharyngeal and nonoropharyngeal cancers is as high as its link to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma," he added.
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Nonoropharyngeal cancers include those occurring in the oral cavity, nasal cavity and larynx.
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Researchers included 409 head and neck cancer patients as case subjects (164 with oropharyngeal and 245 with nonoropharyngeal).
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The study found that 14 per cent of patients with oropharyngeal cancers tested positive for HCV antibodies, compared to just 6.5 per cent in the control group. In those with nonoropharyngeal cancer, 20 per cent tested positive for HCV antibodies.
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As many as 145 of all the oropharyngeal cancer patients were also tested for human papillomavirus (HPV), allowing researchers to compare possible associations between the two viruses. Patients with HCV-positive head and neck cancers were more likely to also test positive for HPV.
The findings were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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