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Eduardo Franco, director of McGill
University’s cancer epidemiology division, and colleagues will conduct a study
of sea-algae extract to determine whether it can be used in a topical gel to
prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) transmission. The seaweed extract,
carrageenan, is used commercially as a thickener and has been found to inhibit
transmission of HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer.
Throughout the next year, 465
sexually active university-age women will participate in a clinical trial of
the seaweed extract. They will be asked to apply a gel before sex. One-half of
them will receive the gel with the active ingredient and the other half will
receive a placebo. Participants will be continually monitored to determine if
the gel prevents transmission. If a participant already has HPV, the researchers
will monitor whether the gel prevents the virus from spreading to a wider area
and whether it prevents the individual from contracting new strains.
In 2010, a McGill study noted that
56 percent of young adults in a new sexual relationship were infected with HPV
and 44 percent of them were infected with a type of HPV that causes cancer.
Although there are vaccines to prevent HPV, Franco noted that they are only
effective against four of the more than 40 types of the virus. Also, the
vaccines are very expensive in developing countries, which have the highest
rates of cancer. If the trial is successful, the extract will provide a cheap
solution, Franco added.
Franco said that if the trial is
successful, the researchers will conduct larger trials with subjects in
different age groups. Other considerations include the use of the extract as
condom lubricant and mixed with gargle solution to prevent transmission during
oral sex.
The Canadian Institutes of Health
Research is funding this trial. Women interested in participating are asked to
contact Allita Rodrigues at catch.study@mcgill.ca. For more information, visit www.mcgill.ca/catch/.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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