A new study in the Lancet Oncology estimates that infections cause approximately 12 percent of global cancer cases, with HPV and Helicobacter pylori accounting for over 1.5 million cases. Researchers emphasize that many infection-related cancers are preventable through vaccines and treatments, with the HPV vaccine demonstrating over 50 percent reduction in cervical cancer rates in some U.S. states.
A new study published in The Lancet Oncology found that infections caused approximately 2.3 million cancer cases worldwide in 2024, representing 12 percent of all new cases. Researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer identified Helicobacter pylori bacteria and human papillomavirus as leading infectious causes, alongside hepatitis viruses and Epstein-Barr virus, with significant regional variations linked to access to prevention and screening programs.