Events

16 Mar 2023|Noida | Amity University, Noida

Dr. Kishore Singh, Director, Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI), New Delhi, deliberates upon the need for “HPV Vaccination and Cervical Cancer”, on the occasion of “National Immunization Day”, at Amity

Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research(AIMSCR) and Amity Institute of Genome Engineering(AIGE), Amity University Uttar Pradesh, jointly organized a Public Lecture on HPV Vaccination and Cervical Cancer” by Dr. Kishore Singh, Director, Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI), New Delhi and Director, Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH), on the occasion of “National Immunization Day”. The lecture was organized with an aim to raise awareness on the “HPV Vaccination Program” that prevents Cervical Cancer.

Delivering his lecture, Prof. Dr. Kishore Singh, Director, Delhi State Cancer Institute & Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital, New Delhi, averred, “The estimated number of incident cases of cancer in India for the year 2022 was found to be 14,61,427 and one in nine people are likely to develop cancer in his/her lifetime. It was also found that lung and breast cancers were the leading sites of cancer in males and females, respectively. The incidence of cancer cases is estimated to increase by 12.8 per cent in 2025 as compared to 2020. Cancer causing infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis, are responsible for approximately 30% of cancer cases in low and lower middle-income countries. HPV is mainly transmitted through sexual contact and women living with HIV are 6 times more likely to develop cervical cancer compared to women without HIV. Vaccination against HPV and screening and treatment of pre-cancer lesions is a cost-effective way to prevent cervical cancer. Most importantly, cervical cancer can be cured if diagnosed at an early stage and treated promptly.”

Explaining the causes for vaccine hesitancy, Dr. Singh said, “HPV related cancers in males are mainly found in East Khasi hills, Meghalaya and the lowest in Sikkim. Sikkim is the first state to introduce the HPV vaccine in the entire state in 2014 but this could not be continued due to vaccine hesitancy. The top five reasons for cervical cancer vaccine hesitancy are safety concerns, not recommended, lack of knowledge, not sexually active and not needed. Therefore, it is extremely crucial to vaccinate young women before they are infected with these serotypes. CERVAVAC is India’s first indigenously developed HPV vaccine against cervical cancer and Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved SII’s Cervavac vaccine phase 2/3 clinical trial results. In addition, Gardasil, Gardasil 9 and Cervarix are the three effective vaccines against HPV.” Responding to a query regarding the vaccination for men, Dr. Kishore Singh, said that more research needs to be done and the vaccination should be for all.

Speaking about HPV Preventive Strategies, he further added, “WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy Targets for 2030 include three important steps. Firstly, 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15. Secondly, 70% of women are screened with high-performance test by 35 years of age and again by 45 years of age and lastly, 90% of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment. Successful implementation of these steps could reduce more than 40% of new cases of the disease and 5 million related deaths by 2050 worldwide. In India, robust Cervical Screening Programmes should be held across the country. efforts for scaling up HPV vaccination covering 80-100% of target population together with two cervical cancer screenings per lifetime would help in achieving cervical cancer elimination by 2065-70.”

Summarizing his lecture, Dr. Singh stated, “HPV infection is now a well-established cause of cervical cancer and there is growing evidence of HPV being a relevant factor in other anogenital cancers (anus, vulva, vagina, and penis) and neck and head cancers. HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for about 70% of all cervical cancer cases worldwide. Most importantly, HPV vaccines that prevent against HPV-16 and 18 infections are now available and have the potential to reduce the incidence of cervical and other anogenital cancers.”

Sharing his words of wisdom, Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Education Group, stated, “Amity strongly believes that research and innovation are the key focus areas for the development of the country. Today’s lecture has been highly insightful and informative, and students must carry out more research work in the area of cancer to develop highly effective vaccines and drugs which can reach the masses and benefit the society at large.” 

Welcoming the guest on this occasion and highlighting the significance of the Programme, Prof. B. C. Das, Chairman, Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research (AIMMSCR), stated, “In India most of the people are not aware of cervical cancer, its causes and prevention, therefore there is an urgent need to spread awareness about cervical cancer so that they can take timely preventive measures including vaccination which is highly effective in preventing the disease. Girls between 9-19 years of age must be vaccinated to ensure early prevention of the disease.” 

Also present on the occasion were Prof. (Dr.) A. Chakraborty, Officiating Registrar & Deputy Director General, Amity Foundation for Science Technology & Innovation Alliances, Dr. A. K. Singh, Senior Vice President, Amity Foundation for Science Technology and Innovation Alliance (AFSTIA), Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Deputy Director General, AFSTIA and Prof. S. Biswas, Director, AIMMSCR along with the Head of Institutions and students of Amity. The lecture concluded with an interactive Q&A session and felicitation of the guest.