EBV vaccine 'could prevent cancer'

Vaccinating against EBV could prevent up to 200,000 cases of cancer worldwide each year, a leading charity said

Vaccinating against the virus that causes glandular fever could prevent up to 200,000 cases of cancer worldwide each year, according to a leading charity.

Around 95% of the global adult population is infected with EBV. Many people pick up the virus in childhood and carry it for life with no ill effects."We believe that a successful EBV vaccine could prevent up to 200,000 new cases of cancers per year."

Others infected as teenagers may develop glandular fever but make a full recovery - but in some individuals the virus can trigger cancer.

The most common cancer associated with EBV in the UK is the blood disease Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as a different form of lymphoma common in transplant patients.

Burkitt lymphoma, gastric carcinoma, and the nasal tumour nasopharyngeal carcinoma are other cancers linked to the virus.

Around one in 10 gastric, or stomach, tumours contain high levels of EBV.

In total EBV is believed to be responsible for an estimated 0.4% of all cancers in the UK each year, leading to 1,200 diagnosed cases in 2010.

Dr Graham Taylor, another Cancer Research UK-funded scientist also based at the University of Birmingham, said: "We know that it's possible to make a vaccine to prevent certain types of virus-associated cancer developing.

"Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus linked to cervical cancer in women, is a shining example.

"EBV is a different type of virus and is transmitted in a different way. But the basic principle remains the same. For EBV, we now need to develop the science that can turn that principle into a reality."