Throat Cancer in Men

HPV may be emerging as leading cause of throat cancer in men.
Forbes (7/22, Herper) reports human papilloma virus (HPV), known for causing cervical cancer, "is emerging as the leading cause of throat cancer in men." Researchers "believe it is transmitted via oral sex," and they estimate that "there are 11,300 HPV throat cancers each year in the US -- and the numbers are growing fast as people have been having more sexual partners since the 1960s." By 2015 "there could be 20,000 cases." Some top researchers are arguing that drug makers should test whether HPV vaccines now used to prevent cervical cancer in women "can also prevent throat infections in boys." Two vaccines, Merck's Gardasil and GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix are approved for cervical cancer; but the drug makers don't seem keen on conducting studies for throat-cancer vaccine because they probably believe it would be hard to get approved, Forbes said. In that case, the federal government "needs to step in and fund the long study," Forbes added, citing some top researchers.