Cancers Associated with Human Papillomavirus: An Overview of Prevalence in Iran and the Middle East
Hossein Bannazadeh Baghi, Parisa Shiri Aghbash, Reyhaneh Rasizadeh, Vahdat Poortahmasebi, Farbod Alinezhad
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been clearly linked to the occurrence of some cancers such as cervical cancer, anogenital cancer, and head and neck cancer. However, studies suggest that the virus can also be the reason for other forms of malignant diseases. Traditionally, countries in the Middle East, including Iran, were thought to be less exposed to HPV infections due to conservative sexual customs. Moreover, owing to the lack of a proper vaccination program in adolescence, malignancies caused by the HPV virus are increasing and are of concern. Additionally, in the absence of a well-established vaccination schedule, changes in sexual behavior have resulted in an increasing number of young individuals engaging in premarital intercourse. In this article, we provide an overview of the current prevalence of common cancers in Iran closely associated with HPV, the status of vaccination programs aimed at preventing malignancies, and early detection strategies to halt cancer progression