Analysis of cervical cancer tissues from 40 Palestinian women revealed HPV infection in 82.5% of cases, with high-risk strains accounting for 77.5% of detections. HPV16 emerged as the dominant genotype at 32.5%, followed by HPV18 at 10%. Notably, infections clustered geographically, with HPV16 showing distinct regional patterns across Palestinian territories. Women in their fifties demonstrated the highest infection rates. This epidemiological profile aligns closely with global cervical cancer patterns, where HPV16 consistently ranks as the leading oncogenic strain. However, the 32.5% HPV16 prevalence sits at the lower end of worldwide ranges, which typically span 50-70% in cervical cancers. The geographic clustering suggests potential transmission hotspots or population-specific genetic susceptibilities that warrant deeper investigation. For Palestinian health policy, these findings validate the urgent need for targeted HPV vaccination programs, particularly focusing on high-burden regions identified through this mapping. The 17.5% HPV-negative rate also indicates that non-viral pathways contribute to cervical cancer development locally, highlighting the continued importance of comprehensive screening beyond HPV testing alone.
HPV16 Drives 33% of Palestinian Cervical Cancers, Regional Clustering Revealed
📄 Based on research published in BMC infectious diseases
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