Scientists compared the results of blood tests, involving 135 people who were about to become ill from throat cancer and 1599 healthy volunteers. It was found that 35 percent of those affected by cancer of the throat have antibodies while this is true for less than 1 percent of healthy subjects.
One-third of diagnosed with throat cancer are infected with human papilloma virus, according to a British study, transmits the BBC.
This virus is the main cause of cervical cancer. There are over 100 types of human papillomavirus. Many people in a moment of their lives infected with human popiloma virus, but the immune system protecting them. Two strains of human papilloma virus are associated with the highest risk of cancer - HPV-16 and HPV-18. It is thought that HPV-16 is responsible for about 60 percent of cervical cancers, 80 per cent of the cancer of the anus and 60 percent of cancers of the mouth.
The study focuses on the relationship between human papillomavirus and cancer in the back of the throat - oropharyngeal cancer.
Researchers from Oxford University studied the results of blood tests within a large-scale study on lifestyle and cancer. At the beginning of the study all participants were healthy and that the blood samples. Scientists were able to examine for the presence of antibodies that are as markers for E6, one of the key proteins of the human papilloma virus. E6 destroyed part of the protective system of the cells, that can prevent the development of cancer. Possessing antibodies means that the human papilloma virus has overcome this protection and caused cancerous changes in cells.
Scientists compared the results of blood tests, involving 135 people who were about to become ill from throat cancer and 1599 healthy volunteers. It was found that 35 percent of those affected by cancer of the throat have antibodies while this is true for less than 1 percent of healthy subjects. However, these patients have a greater chance to fight the disease than those whose disease is related to other causes, such as smoking and alcohol consumption. The results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.