HPV illustration. Source: Freepik
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In the past few weeks, following the United States’ official withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO), there have been a series of claims on social media pointing to several cures to diseases previously considered incurable.
One of such claims is that a Mexican scientist, Eva Ramón Gallegos, has finally found a cure for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is one of the leading causes of cervical cancer in women.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, leading to the death of around 320,000 women as of 2022. Some strains of HPV could also result in anal cancer, throat cancer, penile cancer, vulva and vaginal cancers.
Cleveland Clinic explains that HPV can affect different parts of a person’s body. And while there are over 100 types of HPV, 30 of these strains can affect the genitals, including the vulva, vagina, cervix, penis, and scrotum, as well as the rectum and anus. The other strains can cause warts on a person’s hands, feet, and face.
In 2022 alone, over 755,303 people died from HPV-related cancers globally. However, Medical News Today explained that while HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), some types of HPV do not cause health problems. A person can also have HPV for many years without it causing problems.
To test for this virus, there is no blood test for HPV, but it is part of cervical screening for women. A small sample of cells is taken from the cervix and tested for HPV. There is no specific way to test directly for HPV in men that is approved for clinical use. However, a doctor can visually check a man’s genital area to see if warts are present.
Medical articles confirm that there is currently no treatment for the HPV infection, but if the HPV causes problems, such as genital warts or changes to cells in the cervix, such diseases can be treated.
Meanwhile, the WHO noted that the most effective way to prevent HPV infection is vaccination. The body also noted that appropriate screening can detect cervical precancers that can be treated before they develop into cancer.
Mexican scientist’s breakthrough in HPV research
According to research papers, Eva Gallegos, a biomedical scientist at Mexico’s Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), led a pioneering study using a non‑invasive technique known as photodynamic therapy (PDT). Her study was limited to a cohort of 29 women from Mexico City with HPV and/or low-grade cervical lesions (CIN I).
Intraepithelial Cervical Neoplasia (CIN) is a premalignant lesion that can develop due to infection by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and other microorganisms.
Six months after treatment, HPV infection was eradicated in 100% of patients, accompanied by partial regression of premalignant lesions: 64.3% resolution in CIN I patients with HPV and 57.2% resolution in CIN I patients without HPV.
Eva argued for the effectiveness of this method, noting that current CIN therapy involves invasive methods that affect cervical integrity and fertility.
Another 420 patients with various stages of cervical cancer and HPV in Oaxaca and Veracruz were given this treatment. Data shows that treatment was effective in 64.3% of women who had HPV as well as cervical cancer, and effective in 57.2% of women who had cervical cancer but no HPV.
A 2017 clinical trial involving 30 Mexican women showed that photodynamic therapy (PDT) with 6% δ-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is effective in eliminating HPV-16 and HPV-18 infections, regardless of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) status.
The paper recorded the eradication of HPV infection in 80% of HPV‑only patients, and HPV associated with CIN I was eliminated in 83% of patients. At 12‑month follow‑up, 57% exhibited CIN I regression, though this latter result did not reach statistical significance.
However, some scientists argue that the sample sizes are small, noting that although it may be a promising development in HPV research, it should still be treated as a preliminary finding because the study has not yet undergone appropriate peer review.
A study examined the safety and effectiveness of this light therapy. The authors found that photodynamic therapy dramatically increased the remission rate of those with cervical lesions and HPV. However, safety was slightly compromised, with side effects including burns, scarring, and light sensitivity in the treated area.
The WHO has not approved the PDT method as a treatment for HPV infections. Additionally, the National Cancer Institute has expressed reservations about the use of PDT for cancer treatment, noting its limitations.
It explained that the light used in PDT can’t penetrate more than about 1/3-inch (1 centimetre) of tissue. Because light can’t penetrate deeply into large tumours, photodynamic therapy is less effective in treating them.
Conclusion
Eva and her team have made giant strides in HPV research. However, as of the time of filing this report, there has yet to be a universal cure for HPV.
