Cancers attributable to infections in the US in 2017
Dr. Karena Volesky-Avellaneda
Infections are largely modifiable causes of cancer. A retrospective study estimated the percentage of incident cancers attributable to infections in the US for the most recent year cancer incidence data were available (2017). Among adults, 4.3% of the cancers diagnosed were found to be attributable to 8 types of infections. Approximately half the cancers due to infections were attributable to human papillomavirus. Among chidren, Epstein-Barr virus was responsibe for 2.2% of cancers. The authors conclude that infections continue to represent important targets for cancer prevention efforts.
