Genital warts, other sexually transmitted diseases, and vulvar cancer.
To determine whether specific sexually transmitted diseases were associated with an increased risk of vulvar cancer, we conducted a case-control study among residents of three countries in western Washington. We identified, interviewed, and obtained blood samples from women with in situ (n = 180) and invasive (n = 53) vulvar cancer, 18-79 years of age, who were first diagnosed with these diseases during 1980-1988. We compared their responses with those of 466 women from the general population who were identified by means of random digit dialing. On average, women with vulvar cancer reported a greater number of prior sexual partners than did controls. The risk of vulvar cancer was elevated among women who reported a prior history of condyloma (for in situ cancer, RR = 15.8; for invasive disease, RR = 17.3) or gonorrhea (for in situ cancer, RR = 2.2; for invasive disease, RR = 5.0). Women who were seropositive to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) were at higher risk for carcinoma in situ than were controls (RR = 2.0). A history of nonspecific vaginitis, trichomoniasis, syphilis, or seropositivity to cytomegalovirus was not related to case-control status. These results indicate that only a subset of sexually transmitted diseases, particularly human papillomavirus, may play a role in the development of vulvar cancers.
Sherman
K J
KJ
Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98104.
Daling
J R
JR
Chu
J
J
Weiss
N S
NS
Ashley
R L
RL
Corey
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology