What type of study is this?

This is a Cross-Sectional Study study (also classified as: Pre-Registered Trial).

December 4, 2025

Abstract 2: Oral HPV Prevalence and Genotypes Among Men Living with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean: Preliminary Results of the ULACNet-201 Trial

Key Points

Oral HPV prevalence was 27% among men with HIV, highlighting a significant risk for oropharyngeal cancer.
The study showed that 11% had high-risk HPV infections, with HPV 16 and 33 being the most prevalent types.
Assessment of HPV infections was performed using oral gargle samples collected from participants receiving antiretroviral therapy.
The findings imply that effective HPV vaccination could play a crucial role in reducing cancer risks for this population.

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: People living with HIV have a higher incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) –related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) compared to the general population. This elevated risk is driven by the higher prevalence and persistence of oral high-risk (HR) HPV infections in this population. Scarce data are available from Latin America and the Caribbean. This study aims to evaluate the overall prevalence of oral HPV infection and the distribution of HPV genotypes among men living with HIV in Brazil, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Methods: This cross-sectional study used baseline data from the Phase III ULACNet-201 trial (NCT04255849), a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study designed to assess the 9-valent HPV (9vHPV) vaccine in men living with HIV. Ethical approval was obtained from the IRBs of the University of São Paulo, the Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica, and the University of Puerto Rico. All participants provided written informed consent. Only cisgender men and transgender women aged 20–50 years on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for ≥6 months were enrolled. Oral gargle samples were analyzed for HPV prevalence and genotype distribution using the SPF10 PCR-DEIA-LIPA25 system. Sociodemographic and HIV-related characteristics were collected. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies, and continuous variables as medians with interquartile ranges. Associations were analyzed using Chi-square and ANOVA tests. Results: Among 700 participants, overall prevalence of oral HPV infection was 27%, with HR-HPV at 11%. Prevalence of 4vHPV and 9vHPV types was 4. 7% and 8. 7%, respectively, while seven HR-HPV types covered by the 9vHPV vaccine had a prevalence of 7. 7%. The most common HR-HPV types were HPV 16 (2. 4%), HPV 33 (2. 0%), and HPV 52 (2. 0%). Participants with AIDS-defining conditions had a higher HR-HPV prevalence than those without (16. 3% vs. 9. 8%, p=0. 034). Similarly, HR-HPV prevalence was higher in participants with CD4 counts 200 cells/mm3 compared to 500 cells/mm3 (40. 9% vs. 9. 6%, p0. 001). No differences in prevalences were found among men according to HIV viral load. Conclusion: Oral HR-HPV prevalence is higher in men with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean compared to the general population, highlighting the need for ensuring men living with HIV receive appropriate medical care. Additionally, if proven efficacious in this older adult population, HPV vaccination may help to reduce OPSCC risk. Citation Format: Anna Beltrame, Luisa L. Villa, Eduardo Lazcano-Ponce, Jorge Santana-Bagur, Betanina Allen-Leigh, Alejandra J. Portillo-Romero, Vikrant Sahasrabuddhe, Margaret G. House, Emma Brofsky, Lenice Galan de Paula, Roberto Carvalho da Silva, Michael J. Schell, Julie Rathwell, Kimberly Isaacs-Soriano, Wenyi Fan, Caique Mello, Grant B. Ellsworth, Timothy Wilkin, Anna Giuliano. Oral HPV Prevalence and Genotypes Among Men Living with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean: Preliminary Results of the ULACNet-201 Trial abstract. In: Proceedings of the 13th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; 2025 Sep 16. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34 (12Suppl): Abstract nr 2.

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