HBV linked to cervical cancer but not ovarian or endometrial. How was this undetected?

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is positively correlated with cervical cancer but not with ovarian or endometrial cancers, according to a study published in Discover Oncology.¹

Gynecologic cancer is a growing health challenge worldwide, with cervical cancer being the most common type.² Also, gynecologic cancer–related mortality rates remain high despite updated screening, diagnosis, and treatment methods. For example, annually, about 20,000 US women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and 13,000 die from it.³

The researchers explained that HBV is considered one of the main active causes of hepatocellular carcinoma as recent studies have associated it with increasing extrahepatic malignancy risk, like gastric and pancreatic cancers.⁴ Also, HB surface antigen (HBsAG), core antigen (HBcAG), and DNA can be detected in the ovaries, uterus, and vaginal secretion¹; evidence suggests that HBV can be sexually transmitted, like human papillomavirus (HPV).

However, current research remains divided on the relationship between HBV infection and malignant gynecologic tumor risk. Some studies have shown that HBV infection is a risk factor for endometrial, cervical, and ovarian cancers, but others did not demonstrate any correlation between them.

MORE:

www.ajmc.com/view/hepatitis-b-virus-associated-with-cervical-cancer-not-ovarian-or-endometrial-cancers