Breast Cancer in Female Partners of
Uncircumcised Men
Breast Cancer
Ten studies from 1999 to 2009 have documented high-risk HPVs in breast tumors [Lawson et al., 2006a; Amarante & Watanabe, 2009]. A 2012 systematic review found overall HPV prevalence in breast cancer was 23%, ranging from 13% in Europe to 43% in North America and Australia [Simoes et al. 2012]. The type(s) in breast were identical to those in the cervix of women with cervical cancer [Hennig et al., 1999; Widschwendter et al., 2004]. This led to the suggestion of transmission during sexual activity [Kan et al., 2005]. In support of this women with HPV-positive breast cancer are significantly younger than those with HPV-negative breast cancer [Lawson et al., 2006b]. HPV-associated koilocytes (which are caused by HPV) have been found in breast skin as well as lobules from normal and ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma [Heng et al., 2009; Lawson et al., 2009]. Although contradictory results have been found, a review also found the link between HPV infection and increased genomic instability, reduced apoptosis, immune system dysfunction and progression of metastasis, highlight the importance of an active presence or history of HPV infection as a prognostic factor for breast tumor development [Purrahman et al., 2022]. HPV has been found in the bloodstream of cervical cancer patients [Tseng et al., 1999] as well as male blood donors, where the virus is attached to blood cells [Chen et al., 2009]. Other viruses such as mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have also been implicated [Amarante & Watanabe, 2009]. Although genetic susceptibility is another factor in breast cancer, mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are responsible for only a small proportion of cases. Thus an uncircumcised male partner may also increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, which is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in women.