New test for oral HPV cancers revealed

A new test for oral cancers caused by HPV has been revealed.  The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) has found an RNAscope test that can be done in most hospitals that looks for HPC in oropharyngeal cancers.

Most of the research has been done by clinicians at Liverpool and Newcastle universities who analysed 79 oropharyngeal tumor samples for HPV.  They discovered that the accuracy of classification in the RNAscope test was similar to that of more difficult and time consuming laboratory results.

Previously researchers found that the risk of death from HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer to be between 50% and 80% lower than from HPV-negative tumors.  However HPV- positive patients are often younger and may require long-term treatment.  It is hoped that by finding out the HPV status of the cancer earlier and faster, clinicians can offer patients better treatment.

HPV can be passed on by sexual intercourse, and oral HPV can be passed on by oral sex.

Better2Know can test you for non-oral HPV at many of its clinics across the UK, as it can cause cervical, anal, and penile cancer as well as genital warts.