The incidence of oropharyngeal cancers has been increasing in recent years, particularly among people over the age of 40. These cancers are now more common than cervical cancer. “The main risk factor is infection with human papillomavirus, known as HPV,” says Vladimíra Koudeláková from the Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, and University Hospital Olomouc.
The Department of Dentistry at University Hospital Olomouc is one of the sites offering people the opportunity to participate in a pilot screening program for the detection of oropharyngeal cancer. “More precisely, this is a study investigating the prevalence of HPV in the healthy population and identifying potentially at-risk groups who may subsequently undergo further screening,” Koudeláková explains.
The biological sample is collected from the oral cavity through a simple procedure that involves briefly gargling with ordinary water. The sample is then tested for the presence of HPV. If the result is positive, the participant undergoes a confirmatory gargle sample collection and, if necessary, a blood draw.
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