Past president of the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology, Dr. Daron Ferris spoke before a group of obstetricians and gynecologists, oncologists, pediatricians, and infectious disease specialists in the country. In his lecture, Dr. Ferris pointed out that there is over a hundred types of human papillomavirus (HPV) and that almost everyone gets infected in the lower genital tract -- so it was not unusual for women (including men) to get it.

Dr. Ferris explained that in about 70 percent of cases, the virus cleared on its own. But 30 percent of the time, it does not. “It’s the 30 percent we are concerned about – those who are not able to clear the virus,” he said. “And when a woman is forty years old and HPV persists, that’s the number one risk factor for cervical cancer,” he added.

Dr. Ferris explained that there are "two peaks" in the prevalence of HPV. According to data, the first peak is seen in young adolescence and early adulthood (between the ages of 15 to 25 years), where there have been the most cases of HPV infections in the lower genital tract. The second peak, though not as high as the first peak, is seen between 30 to 40 years of age – which would mean a person can still be infected later in life.

According to Dr. Ferris, the only US FDA-approved Quadrivalent HPV Recombinant Vaccine can not only prevent cervical cancer, but can also prevent other cancers and diseases such as vaginal and vulvar cancers and genital warts.

He added that, "For women over the age of 25, new data has emerged from the results of the Future III clinical study. The FUTURE III Quadrivalent HPV Vaccine Trial was conducted over the past five years and included 4,000 women between the ages of 24 to 45 years. The mean average age of the women was 34 years old. The baseline demographics of this Mid-Adult Women’s Study were (according to Race): 31.2% Asian; 43.2% Hispanic-American; 20.5% white; 4.7% black; and 0.4% others. As to Country of Origin, 31.0% were from the Asia-Pacific (including the Philippines); 42.3% were from Latin America; 14.3% from North America; and 12.5% from Europe.

"The primary efficacy results of the Mid-Adult Women Study revealed that there was a 92% reduction in disease among the 24 to 34 year olds, while the 35 to 45 year olds experienced an 89% reduction in disease. The study also revealed that the antibody levels in the mid-adult women had become sufficiently high one month after completing the vaccination series. The Quadrivalent HPV vaccine also demonstrated an acceptable safety and tolerability profile. When administered to baseline HPV 16/18-naïve women, the vaccine was 91% effective in preventing HPV 6/11/16/18-related persistent infections, CIN 2-3, VIN, VAIN, and genital warts," Dr. Ferris elaborated.

Dr. Ferris also stressed to the doctors the need to help protect patients from cancer-causing HPV. “Not all cases take 10 to 20 years to develop. Now, a woman can go from a normal cervix and then into CIN3, a serious precancerous change in just one or two years. With these new findings, mid-adult women can now be vaccinated against cervical cancer and genital warts, both safely and effectively."

In conclusion, Dr. Ferris encouraged Filipino doctors to actively discuss prevention measures with their patients, including discussions about vaccination.

PHOTO CAPTION:

Dr. Daron Ferris, director of the Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Center and Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Medical College of Georgia, stressed the importance of being protected against cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV).  Photo shows (from left): MSD medical director Dr. Butch Recto; panel reactor Dr. May Emmeline Montellano; MSD business unit director Mike Blanch; cervical cancer survivor and advocate Jo dela Cruz; guest speaker Dr. Daron Ferris; panel reactor Dr. Efren Domingo; symposium moderator Dr. Ricardo Manalastas; and MSD events officer Apple Simbulan.