One in eight new cancers linked to infections — many are preventable with testing, treatment and vaccines

# What the new analysis found

# Which pathogens account for most cases

• Helicobacter pylori and human papillomavirus (HPV) together accounted for more than 1.5 million estimated cancer cases. H. pylori has long been associated with stomach cancer and, in this analysis, was also linked to a substantial share of bowel cancer cases. HPV causes several cancer types, notably cervical cancer, and is connected to throat and anal cancers.
• Hepatitis B infection was linked to about 360,000 cancer cases, mainly liver cancer.
• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) accounted for around 260,000 cases and was associated with cancers such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma, some lymphomas, and additional stomach cancers identified in more recent research.

# Prevention is practical and evidence-based The study's authors and other cancer researchers emphasize that many of these infection-related cancers are preventable with existing tools.

• Vaccination: HPV vaccination, introduced in the U.S. in 2006, prevents infections that lead to multiple cancers. In the two decades since its introduction, cervical cancer rates have fallen by more than half in some U.S. states among women aged 20 to 31—the first cohort offered the vaccine as preteens. Hepatitis B vaccination also prevents liver cancer linked to chronic infection.
• Testing and treatment: Screening and treatment programs for hepatitis C and B can reduce liver cancer risk. Antibiotic treatment of H. pylori infection can lower the chance of developing stomach-related cancers.

# Geographic differences and policy implications The burden of infection-linked cancers is not evenly distributed. The analysis found higher rates in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa. Those differences reflect gaps in investment: fewer cervical cancer screening programs and lower access to vaccines and treatments in some regions increase population risk. Mapping where infection-attributable cancer is concentrated can guide public-health priorities and resource allocation.

# What individuals can do now

• Get recommended vaccines: HPV and hepatitis B where indicated by age and local guidelines.
• Follow screening recommendations: cervical cancer screening and liver-related monitoring when at risk.
• Seek testing and treatment for infections known to elevate cancer risk (for example, H. pylori, hepatitis C) if you have clinical indications or risk factors.

# Bottom line A significant share of the global cancer burden is linked to infections, but many of those cases are preventable through existing public-health measures: vaccination, testing, and treatment. Where prevention programs are scaled and equitably delivered, infection-linked cancer rates decline.