New HPV vaccines: can they eradicate cervical cancer?

15 Oct 2009

Thursday 15 October 2009

Time:  4.00 to 5.00pm followed by refreshments

Speaker: Professor Suzanne Garland, Director of the Royal Women's Hospital, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department and Women's Research Centre Infectious Diseases, Senior Consultant Microbiology Royal Children's Hospital, Honorary Research Fellow Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Professor, University of Melbourne.

Part of the Bio21 Institute 'Big Picture' Seminar Series

All welcome.  No RSVP required.

Venue: Bio21 Institute Auditorium, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville 

Bio: Suzanne M. Garland is a Clinical Microbiologist and Sexual Health Physician and holds the following appointments: Director of the Royal Women's Hospital, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department and Women's Research Centre Infectious Diseases, Senior Consultant Microbiology Royal Children's Hospital, Honorary Research Fellow Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Professor, University of Melbourne.

Her research interests include infectious diseases in reproductive health, sexual health as well as neonatal health, rapid techniques of diagnosis, a special interest in human papillomavirus and cervical cancer, particularly at the public health vaccine level.

Abstract: Australia has very much been at the forefront of cervical cancer control, initially with involvement with the development of the prophylactic vaccine and subsequently with developing an effective public health program. Although the causative agent, oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is non-cultivatable in routine diagnostic laboratories, application of molecular biology has seen the development of viral like particles (VLPs) which underpin the successful vaccines we have today. Following registration in June 2006 by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Australia, the quadrivalent vaccine was released for the prevention of HPV 6/11/16/18-associated cervical cancer, adenocarcinoma in situ, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grades 1 to 3, vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) grades 2/3, and genital warts in women. More recent data shows effectiveness for male related HPV disease prevention.

Australia was also one of the first countries to license a bivalent vaccine that protects against HPV 16 and 18, the cause of 70% of cancers worldwide.  Licensure for both vaccines was based on the very high efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety, in phase 3 vaccine trials. The HPV vaccines are being recommended for girls aged 11 to 12 years, with catch-up programs for those up to 26 years. To date, the Australian government funded school-based program has shown high compliance rates and in the order of near 80%. Australia is in an excellent position through good surveillance to measure effectiveness of the vaccine, potential cross protection as well as type replacement.

These prophylactic vaccines have the potential with good coverage, to reduce the burden of disease from vaccine-HPV related types. However those countries with the greatest burden of disease (cervix cancer is the second commonest cancer worldwide in women) have the greatest challenge in affording the vaccines and implementation with efficient delivery systems, and are those most worthy of such a great public health initiative.