Malignant Neoplasms Associated with Human Papillomavirus Infection in the Northwestern Federal District of Russia: Morbidity, Mortality, Vaccination

Introduction: The etiological role of human papillomavirus has been proven in the development of cervical cancer and other tumors of the anogenital tract and oropharyngeal region. Vaccination against papillomavirus infection is carried out in most countries of the world, including Russia, to reduce cancer incidence rates.

Objective: To study clinical and epidemiological features of malignant neoplasms associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV) in order to improve vaccine prevention in the North-West of Russia.

Materials and methods: We analyzed morbidity, distribution by stages of the tumor process and mortality from cancer of the cervix, oral cavity, tonsils, oropharynx, larynx, anus and anal canal, vulva, vagina, and penis based on data collected by Form 7 “Data on Malignant Neoplasms” and population cancer registries of St. Petersburg and the Kaliningrad Region for the years 2011–2020. The number of incident cases of those neoplasms in St. Petersburg, the Leningrad and Kaliningrad Regions was 13,117, 3,204, and 2,898 cases, respectively. In 2018–2021, the total number of people vaccinated against papillomavirus infection was 9,603. We applied methods of retrospective epidemiological analysis, while statistical processing of the collected data was carried out using Statistica 12 and WinPepi software.

Results: In 2011–2019, the incidence of cervical cancer increased in the city of St. Petersburg and the Kaliningrad Region. The incidence of laryngeal cancer among the male population of the Northwestern regions of Russia did not change significantly. The proportion of patients with oropharyngeal cancer of stages 3 and 4 was more than 60 %, those with cervical cancer – about 50 % of cases. An increase in mortality from oropharyngeal cancer was detected in the age group of 60–69 years. We also revealed low coverage with vaccination against HPV in the Northwestern Federal District.

Conclusion: To reduce morbidity and mortality from HPV-associated malignant neoplasms in the North-West of Russia, it is necessary to develop a system of epidemiological surveillance and vaccine prevention of human papillomavirus infection. 

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