PRLog (Press Release) – Nov 06, 2010 – In 2008, half of the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to Dr. Harald zur Hausen for 1) finding there are multiple HPV genotypes; 2) molecularly cloning HPV16 and HPV18 genomes and showing their DNA is present in a majority of cervical cancers; 3) observing a portion of the HPV genome is integrated in tumors, with preferential retention and expression of the E6 and E7 genes, thus implicating them as the principal viral oncogenes and suggesting that their continued expression contributed to the tumorigenic phenotype.

On 23 September 2010, Dr. Harald zur Hausen was a keynote speaker at an annual forum for Nobel Laureates held in Tokyo. The theme for this year's forum was, "What can Science do for Human Beings?"

Following are excerpts from Dr. Hausen's speech, "Many Unknowns in Cancer Agent Search."  (Visit http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/science/T1011030057 ... for details.)

"We can presently surmise that approximately 12 to 15 percent of cancers in females globally are linked to papillomavirus infections and other types of viral infections."

"We deal with very long latency periods, usually between the primary infection and the subsequent appearance of the respective forms of tumors--in some instances between 30 and 60 years between infection and tumor development."

"So what happens in cancer? In cancer, the main event is once the uptake of a specific virus in a core gene, in those cases where we have the virus infection, but in the course of a long period of time, each of these signaling cascades is switched off due to mutations that occur within specific genes of those cascades, resulting in an increased expression of the respective gene and eventually in the malignant outgrowth of their respective types of cells. This commonly spans a period of 15 to 30 years in the case of cervical cancer."

"The length of this type of latency period depends really on the number of cellular signaling cascades that need to be interrupted until the tumor develops. This means that in instances where we have no core gene present in the respective cells, and on the other hand, in one or two of these signaling cascade mutations, this particular individual will not develop cancer as long as it doesn't take up additional factors, which means this person is at a higher risk for cancer development. But clearly these types of changes are not sufficient for cancer events to take place."

"The protective effect for previously unexposed women--an important point, they need to be not infected because it's only a preventive vaccine--comes close to 100 percent in the prevention of infections, and also in the prevention of previous steps of cervical cancer."

This information is from one of the foremost experts on HPV. His words confirm that HPV, in and of itself, does not cause cervical cancer. Other risk factors must be present to trigger the change to cancer.

He also stresses that HPV vaccines come close to 100% effectiveness, IF the person is unexposed at the time of vaccination.

What are HPV vaccines effective at? Preventing future infections with Human Papillomavirus--which is not a disease--it is a virus. A virus that may, with repeated infections of the same genotype, increase the risk of developing cervical cancer 15+ years down the road. A virus that is benign in most instances, and needs other risk factors present prior to causing cancer.

One more critical fact:  according to a clear statement made in a paper published on the results of an animal papillomavirus study sponsored in part by the National Cancer Institute, human papillomavirus (HPV) is highly species-specific, making it impossible to use animal studies to evaluate a vaccine's efficacy. HPV vaccines can only be tested on humans. (Visit  http://www.pnas.org/content/92/25/11553.full.pdf for details)

The SaneVax team has no problem with any and all efforts to prevent cancer. We only want the public to be told the truth. If HPV vaccines such as Gardasil, Silgard or Cervarix prevent infection by a virus that can be a risk factor for cancer, that is laudable. Just don't try to tell us it prevents cervical cancer, or any other type of cancer, until it has been proven to do so.