The Association Between Human Papillomavirus and Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Sarah Botting-Provost, Kristy Ng, Cassandra Laurie et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined epidemiological evidence on human papillomavirus (HPV) and prostate cancer. It included 84 studies published from 1990 to 2025, spanning cross-sectional, case-control, nested case-control, and cohort designs; 39 studies contributed to the meta-analysis. HPV detection was associated with higher odds of prostate cancer, with a pooled odds ratio of 2.35 (95% CI: 1.87-2.95). The association was stronger for high-risk HPV, but the authors note that whether HPV has an etiologic role in prostate cancer remains unclear.
Key findings
- Across 39 studies, HPV detection was associated with prostate cancer (pooled OR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.87-2.95).
- For high-risk HPV, the pooled OR was 2.75 (95% CI: 1.69-4.46).
- The association was strongest when normal tissue served as the control group (pooled OR: 4.81, 95% CI: 1.83-12.69).
- Most included studies (58.3%) reported HPV prevalence below 20%.
Why it matters
The pooled findings indicate a positive association between oncogenic HPV detection in prostate specimens and prostate cancer, making HPV a relevant subject for further etiologic research. However, the evidence combines varied study designs and detection methods, and an observed association does not establish that HPV contributes causally to prostate carcinogenesis.
What to keep in mind
The evidence includes heterogeneous study designs and HPV ascertainment methods; the authors state that the etiologic significance of the association remains unclear.