Longevity & AgingHPV Cancers Four Times More Likely in HIV Patients and Transplant Recipients
A large Swedish retrospective study found that people with HIV are over four times more likely to develop HPV-related cancers compared to healthy matched controls, while organ transplant recipients face more than double the risk. The cancers studied include anal, penile, vulvar, and cervical cancers. Researchers from the Karolinska Institutet analyzed data from over 350,000 individuals spanning four decades. The findings highlight how long-term immune suppression — whether from HIV or anti-rejection medications — impairs the body's ability to clear HPV infections and prevent precancerous lesions from progressing. Experts call for earlier vaccination, better screening, and optimized immunosuppressive regimens in these high-risk groups.
