A report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that an estimated 25,000 cases of cancers associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) occurred in 38 states and Washington D.C. annually between 1998 and 2003.This analysis was the first and most comprehensive assessment of cancer linked to HPV in the U.S. said the CDC.  

Mona Saraiya, MD, a medical officer in the CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, in a news release said, "These estimates of HPV-associated cancers were collected prior to the development of the HPV vaccine. This gives us baseline data to measure the impact of HPV vaccine and cervical cancer screening programs in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer and other HPV-associated cancers and pre-cancers.”

The report covers the period before the HPV vaccine was available and the most common areas for the HPV linked cancers were the cervix, head and neck, anus, vulva, penis and vagina. More than 30 types of HPV can be sexually transmitted and most people with HPV infection don’t show any symptoms or health problems but some HPV types can cause cancer.

The CDC report said during the study period annually there were 10,800 HPV related cancers of the cervix, 7,400 of the oral cavity and oropharynx, 3,000 anal cancer cases, 2,300 cases of vulvar cancer, and about 800 of penile cancer. Out of the 600 women who developed vaginal cancers related to HPV, there were more black women than white affected. These women also had an increased risk of developing noninvasive cancers of the vagina and vulva as well as invasive cancers of the vulva, rectum, and vagina, the CDC's report added.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, an independent panel of health experts that advises the CDC said the HPV vaccine, called Gardasil, manufactured by Merck causes no major safety problems and protects against infection of four types of HPV, responsible for cervical cancer and genital warts. Gardasil was developed from research that began in the 1980s and was approved by the FDA two years ago. A survey showed that 98% of pediatricians and 88% of family doctors are administering Gardasil to their female patients.

The findings, which were published online, will be in the Nov. 15 supplement edition of the journal Cancer.