May 12, 2009

HPV Vaccine Is Active in MSM

The vaccine Gardasil provides at least short-term protection in men who have sex with men (MSM) against human papillomavirus (HPV) strains known to cause cancer, according to a study presented at the International Papillomavirus Conference in Malmö, Sweden.

Specific strains of HPV, particularly types 16 and 18, have been linked to cervical, penile and anal cancer. HPV types 6 and 11 are believed to be a cause of noncancerous lesions and genital warts.

Gardasil has been shown to significantly reduce infection with these four strains of HPV in young women. As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that 11- and 12-year-old girls be vaccinated, and that girls and young women between the ages of 13 and 26 also be vaccinated if they’ve not completed a full course of the vaccine. Gardasil, however, hasn’t yet been proved effective in young MSM.

To determine the early response rates of Gardasil in young MSM, Joel Palefsky, MD, from the University of California in San Francisco, and his colleagues, compared the vaccine with a placebo in 602 MSM between the ages of 16 and 26. Regular swabs of the men’s penises and anuses were conducted, as were blood tests. The average follow-up time was one year following the last of the three vaccine injections.

The vaccine was remarkably effective. It reduced the number of external genital lesions by HPV types 6, 11, 16 or 18 by 79 percent. It protected against persistent infection in blood or swab samples by 94 percent. Eighty-nine percent or more of the participants developed antibodies to the four HPV types by month seven.

Palefsky and his colleagues say they are encouraged by these results and look forward to longer follow-up to increase their confidence that the results are lasting.

Search: HPV, human papilloma virus, Gardasil, Merck, vaccine, anal cancer, cervical cancer, Joel Palefsky, MSM

Scroll down to comment on this story.

Previous Comments:

jon, , 2009-05-17 10:28:10
Would the vaccine be, perhaps 50% effective, in building antibodies to HPV and fighting the disease in patients who already have manifested genital warts, or have no effect at all?

David D, San FranciscoI, 2009-05-17 04:02:48
I think some of us do not have any options avalable and we schould be allowed to try this new treatment, and fast track this to people who have major problems in this area !

Hassan J. Gibbs, PHILADELPHIA PA, 2009-05-13 16:36:59
Many years ago Dr Joel's Anoscopist RN came to Phila and talked about off lable use of gardisil in MSM HIV+ men. This is BIG NEWS. I know I dist this info to my AA MSM friends and tell them to take a copy to their Dr's

Tim Horn, AIDSmeds.com, New York, NY, 2009-05-13 13:01:19
Shawntee -- This is only one of several Gardasil studies being conducted. Some involve women, some involve men, some look at particular sites of the body for disease, some look for specific types of HPV -- all important issues best addressed in studies with very specific research questions. We'll be covering these as they become available.

Tim Horn, AIDSmeds.com, New York, NY, 2009-05-13 12:57:09
Clarence - It may not be that HIV-positive men and women are more likely to become infected with HPV. However, it could be that they are less likely to spontaneously clear the virus after becoming infected and, as a result, remain at a higher risk for warts and pre-cancerous lesions.

Shawntae, , 2009-05-13 12:04:23
Females have anuses too! So is this vaccine not effective in heterosexual men or is it just not marketed to this demographic?

Clarence Peeples, Detroit, 2009-05-13 11:41:31
Two questions. Why is it that HIV-positive people are more likely to be infected with HPV than HIV-negative people. And why the distinction with the vaccine being active in MSM. Wouldn't it be just as active in heterosexual men?