New HPV Vaccine Promising in Mice(accine in the laboratory. When the vacci...),Health

Roden said the mice used in this experiments had special immune system T helper cells for the vaccine to attach itself. Whether human T helper cells would work in all groups of people isn't known, he said. "Right now, that's an area we are looking at," he said.

HPV is responsible for genital warts and about 99.7 percent of all cervical cancers worldwide.

Debbie Saslow, director of breast and gynecologic cancer at the American Cancer Society, said that if this vaccine could be developed, it would represent an important advance in getting more people vaccinated against HPV, especially in developing countries.

"While we have wonderful opportunities with the current vaccine, there are limitations," she said.

One limitation is the cost of the Gardasil vaccine, an estimated $300 to $500, Saslow added. "That's a limitation in this country, but particularly in the developing world where there is so much cervical cancer," she said.

The Gardasil vaccine also requires three shots, which is difficult in developing countries and among adolescents, Saslow said.

"Needle-less vaccination is the way to go for a lot of reasons," she said. "The current shots are extremely painful, and that's going to be a deterrent for teenage populations, as is going back and getting the three doses."

More information

To learn more about HPV, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SOURCES: Richard B.S. Roden, Ph.D., associate professor of pathology, gynecology and obstetrics, and oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore; Debbie Saslow, Ph.D., director, breast and gynecologic cancer
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