Preventable infections linked to thousands of cancer cases in Telangana

Nearly 1.9 lakh cancer cases in India in 2024 were linked to infections, including HPV, H. pylori and hepatitis viruses. The infection-linked burden is also significant in Telangana, highlighting the importance of vaccination, screening, early detection and timely treatment.

Hyderabad: A significant number of cancer cases in India are linked to infections, many of which can be prevented through timely vaccination, screening and appropriate medical treatment.

Reflecting this, a recent analysis published in The Lancet Oncology indicated that nearly 1.9 lakh cancer cases in India in 2024 were linked to infections rather than genetic factors or other causes.

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Similarly, based on the study’s baseline data and an extrapolation using present oncology trends, over 6,000 such cancer cases could occur in Telangana, linked to bacterial infections such as H. pylori and viral infections including Hepatitis B and C, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus.

While lifestyle factors and genetic predispositions frequently dominate public discourse, infection-linked cancers can also develop following persistent infections with common microorganisms, The Lancet study indicated.

Data emerging from regional registries and tertiary care centres such as the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) and the MNJ Institute of Oncology highlight how these infection pathways translate into daily clinical loads.

At the forefront of infection-linked cancers analysed in The Lancet report is Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is responsible for cervical cancer and other malignancies. HPV-linked cancers remain a major clinical challenge among women in Telangana. Despite the availability of preventive vaccines and screening protocols, a lack of grassroots awareness can result in patients presenting at advanced stages.

Another major area of concern highlighted in the study is Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection and the associated risk of gastric cancer. Persistent H. pylori infection causes chronic inflammation of the stomach lining and can contribute to the development of gastric cancer if left untreated.

Chronic infections with Hepatitis B and C viruses also play a major role in liver cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma. Public health experts emphasise that scaling up Hepatitis B vaccination and expanding access to antiviral therapy are important steps to interrupt this progression.

Commenting on infection-linked cancers, former WHO Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan said on X, “Pathogens like HPV, H. pylori, and Hepatitis viruses drive over 2 million cancers globally every year, underscores an urgent need for policy shifts”.

Cancer in Telangana

• Telangana records roughly 55,000 to 60,000 new cancer cases annually, according to State health department estimates.
• The State’s cancer incidence rate has been reported at 125 per 1 lakh population, compared with 110 per 1 lakh nationally.
• Breast cancer is the leading malignancy among women in Telangana.
• Oral and head-and-neck cancers, many of them linked to tobacco use, are prominent among men in the State.
• Hanumakonda has the highest district-level cancer incidence rate in the State at 79 cases per lakh population, followed by Hyderabad at 72.
• Only 3.3 per cent of women in Telangana have undergone cervical cancer screening, according to the Telangana Cancer Burden Profile 2026.
• Nearly 1.9 lakh cancer cases in India in 2024 were linked to infections, with HPV, H. pylori, Hepatitis B and C, and Epstein-Barr virus among the major contributors.