High Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus in Vulvar Cancer Among Vietnamese Women: Implications for Vaccination Strategies

ABSTRACT Background Vulvar cancer (VC) is rare; however, its incidence has steadily increased, likely due to increased human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. HPV infection rates vary significantly with age and ethnicity. Data on the VC incidence in Vietnam are limited. Objectives This study aimed to...

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Main Authors: D. N. L. Tran, H. N. Vo, T. T. A. Cung, N. D. Tran, H. N. Cao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Cancer Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70982
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author D. N. L. Tran
H. N. Vo
T. T. A. Cung
N. D. Tran
H. N. Cao
author_facet D. N. L. Tran
H. N. Vo
T. T. A. Cung
N. D. Tran
H. N. Cao
author_sort D. N. L. Tran
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background Vulvar cancer (VC) is rare; however, its incidence has steadily increased, likely due to increased human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. HPV infection rates vary significantly with age and ethnicity. Data on the VC incidence in Vietnam are limited. Objectives This study aimed to determine HPV infection rates and high‐risk HPV types (HR‐HPVs) and to model HPV causality in co‐infections using a Proportional Attribution (PropAttr) model in Vietnamese VC patients. Methods We investigated primary VC cases (invasive carcinoma) diagnosed at our hospital during 2020–2021. Tumor samples were tested for HPV using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Recurrent cases and poor‐quality preserved tumor samples were excluded. HPV infection status, HR‐HPV status, and relevant clinicopathological features were analyzed. To estimate the most likely causative HPV genotype in co‐infected lesions, the PropAttr model was applied, attributing genotypes based on their prevalence in mono‐infections. Model reliability was validated using Spearman's correlation analysis. Results Of the 95 cases, 95% were squamous cell carcinoma, and 40% were clinical stage I. The HPV infection rate was approximately 77% (68.4–85.2), and HPV‐16 was the most common subtype. Patients infected with HPV (mean age: 62.8) were younger than those who were not infected (mean age: 71.4) in univariate (p = 0.004) and multivariate (p < 0.001) analyses. While the vulvar pathohistological type was significantly associated with HPV infection in multivariate analysis (p < 0.001), no significant relationship was observed with other factors in univariate and multivariate analyses. The PropAttr model showed significant correlations between attribution estimates and mono‐infection prevalence (HPV‐16: ρ = 0.806, p < 0.001; HPV‐18: ρ = 0.992, p < 0.001; 12 other HR‐HPVs: ρ = 0.880, p < 0.001). A strong negative correlation between HPV‐16 and 12 other HR‐HPVs (ρ = −0.751, p < 0.001) suggested competitive interactions in genotype assignment. Conclusions The HPV infection rate in Vietnamese VC cases was substantially higher than in other Asian populations, indicating a significant public health burden. Our findings reinforce the importance of expanding national HPV vaccination programs and incorporating advanced attribution models to improve HPV‐related cancer risk assessment.
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spelling doaj-art-9d36008d8b1d4efb98d2d9269d2e40202025-08-20T03:46:58ZengWileyCancer Medicine2045-76342025-06-011411n/an/a10.1002/cam4.70982High Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus in Vulvar Cancer Among Vietnamese Women: Implications for Vaccination StrategiesD. N. L. Tran0H. N. Vo1T. T. A. Cung2N. D. Tran3H. N. Cao4Department of Oncology University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City VietnamDepartment of Oncology University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City VietnamDepartment of Oncology University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City VietnamFaculty of Public Health University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City VietnamInstitute Pasteur Ho Chi Minh City VietnamABSTRACT Background Vulvar cancer (VC) is rare; however, its incidence has steadily increased, likely due to increased human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. HPV infection rates vary significantly with age and ethnicity. Data on the VC incidence in Vietnam are limited. Objectives This study aimed to determine HPV infection rates and high‐risk HPV types (HR‐HPVs) and to model HPV causality in co‐infections using a Proportional Attribution (PropAttr) model in Vietnamese VC patients. Methods We investigated primary VC cases (invasive carcinoma) diagnosed at our hospital during 2020–2021. Tumor samples were tested for HPV using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Recurrent cases and poor‐quality preserved tumor samples were excluded. HPV infection status, HR‐HPV status, and relevant clinicopathological features were analyzed. To estimate the most likely causative HPV genotype in co‐infected lesions, the PropAttr model was applied, attributing genotypes based on their prevalence in mono‐infections. Model reliability was validated using Spearman's correlation analysis. Results Of the 95 cases, 95% were squamous cell carcinoma, and 40% were clinical stage I. The HPV infection rate was approximately 77% (68.4–85.2), and HPV‐16 was the most common subtype. Patients infected with HPV (mean age: 62.8) were younger than those who were not infected (mean age: 71.4) in univariate (p = 0.004) and multivariate (p < 0.001) analyses. While the vulvar pathohistological type was significantly associated with HPV infection in multivariate analysis (p < 0.001), no significant relationship was observed with other factors in univariate and multivariate analyses. The PropAttr model showed significant correlations between attribution estimates and mono‐infection prevalence (HPV‐16: ρ = 0.806, p < 0.001; HPV‐18: ρ = 0.992, p < 0.001; 12 other HR‐HPVs: ρ = 0.880, p < 0.001). A strong negative correlation between HPV‐16 and 12 other HR‐HPVs (ρ = −0.751, p < 0.001) suggested competitive interactions in genotype assignment. Conclusions The HPV infection rate in Vietnamese VC cases was substantially higher than in other Asian populations, indicating a significant public health burden. Our findings reinforce the importance of expanding national HPV vaccination programs and incorporating advanced attribution models to improve HPV‐related cancer risk assessment.https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70982HPVVietnamvulvar cancervulvar tumor
spellingShingle D. N. L. Tran
H. N. Vo
T. T. A. Cung
N. D. Tran
H. N. Cao
High Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus in Vulvar Cancer Among Vietnamese Women: Implications for Vaccination Strategies
Cancer Medicine
HPV
Vietnam
vulvar cancer
vulvar tumor
title High Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus in Vulvar Cancer Among Vietnamese Women: Implications for Vaccination Strategies
title_full High Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus in Vulvar Cancer Among Vietnamese Women: Implications for Vaccination Strategies
title_fullStr High Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus in Vulvar Cancer Among Vietnamese Women: Implications for Vaccination Strategies
title_full_unstemmed High Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus in Vulvar Cancer Among Vietnamese Women: Implications for Vaccination Strategies
title_short High Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus in Vulvar Cancer Among Vietnamese Women: Implications for Vaccination Strategies
title_sort high prevalence of human papillomavirus in vulvar cancer among vietnamese women implications for vaccination strategies
topic HPV
Vietnam
vulvar cancer
vulvar tumor
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70982
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