Millions of women who carry the human papillomavirus suffer from precancerous lesions. But a small study indicates that an HPV vaccine may either improve their condition or cure it altogether, preventing malignancies in the vulva.
In a small trial, researchers tested the vaccine on 20 women who suffered from these lesions. And four out of five patients reported that the lesions had either been reduced or eliminated. Half had no sign of the lesions two years after treatment.
"This shows that it is possible to vaccinate against chronic disease, as well as treat HPV-induced premalignance," said study co-author Sjoerd H. van der Burg. If this new approach is proven in larger trials, women will have a shot at replacing surgery or laser and freezing treatments with the vaccine.
- read the story from U.S. News & World Report