The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) published their global recommendations for the primary prevention of cervical cancer in the Journal of Global Oncology.1
“This guideline is unique in offering cervical cancer recommendations that can be adapted to different resource levels and we expect it to have a major impact on the global health community,” stated Silvia de Sanjosé, MD, PhD, co-chair of the Expert Panel that developed the guideline, and head of the Cancer Epidemiology Research Program at Institut Català d’Oncologia in Barcelona, Spain in a press release.2
The Expert Panel consisted of a multinational and multidisciplinary group who used a mixed method to develop the ASCO guideline, which included the evaluation of guidelines from other organizations, expert consensus, and a comprehensive literature search for data of the primary prevention of cervical cancer.
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The guideline recommends that all girls age 9 to 14 receive 2 doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, with a minimum of a 6-month period between doses, regardless of the resource setting. The vaccine may be received up to age 26.
Girls age 15 or older who receive their first dose of the vaccine before age 15 need only 1 dose. Girls older than age 15 who have never received the HPV vaccine should be administered 3 doses.
The recommendations indicate that girls with HIV infection should receive 3 doses of the vaccine.
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In limited resource settings, the HPV vaccine is recommended for boys for the prevention of cervical cancer in the target population only if the vaccination coverage is less than 50%. The vaccine may be provided to boys, though, to reduce the risk of other HPV-related cancers or diseases.
References
- Arrossi S, Temin S, Garland S, et al. Primary prevention of cervical cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Resource-Stratified Guideline. J Global Oncol. 2017 Mar 17. [Epub ahead of print]
- First global guidance for HPV vaccination for cervical cancer prevention [news release]. Arlington, VA: American Society of Clinical Oncology; March 17, 2017. http://www.asco.org/about-asco/press-center/news-releases/first-global-guidance-hpv-vaccination-cervical-cancer. Accessed March 20, 2017.
