On the Path to Prevention from the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program

March is Women’s History Month, which is a time to celebrate the vital role of women in our society. Every month is the right time to talk about HPV cancer prevention and celebrate women. However, aligning HPV cancer prevention with women has presented challenges in the United States and globally. Some argue that framing HPV as a women-only issue furthers gender bias and apathy toward HPV vaccination. It is past time to change these perceptions. In the U.S., oropharyngeal cancers among men have surpassed cervical cancers among women as the most commonly diagnosed type of HPV cancer. HPV affects everyone – men and women – and our efforts to improve HPV vaccination coverage have been gender-neutral for nearly 10 years. Everyone should be protected against HPV cancers because everyone is affected by HPV.

In this month’s newsletter, to celebrate Women’s History Month we feature three women who have influenced the field of HPV cancer prevention and inspired me in my career. Let us know who has inspired you for a possible feature in a future newsletter.

As always, we have much information to share with you. We welcome your contributions to our newsletter to further the reach of your own HPV cancer prevention efforts. Reach out to us at PreventHPV@stjude.org.

HPV vaccination is cancer prevention.

On March 4, Path to a Bright Future celebrated its first anniversary. Launched on International HPV Awareness Day (IHAD) in 2022 as a public awareness campaign to emphasize the need for HPV vaccination to prevent six types of cancer, Path to a Bright Future has enjoyed a busy first year.

Throughout the last year, we have partnered with more than 140 professional organizations, community groups, and individuals who share the common goal of increasing HPV vaccination for cancer prevention.

We have also created a community of more than 650 supporters, including parents and caregivers. Through this community, we share educational resources, engage on social media and encourage vaccination of children against HPV cancers through our Parent and Caregiver Pledge. We have seen nearly 12 million views of our social media posts, and the materials we’ve developed to help raise awareness of the importance of HPV vaccination have been downloaded hundreds of times.

We are grateful for the support of campaign partners throughout this first year of Path to a Bright Future. We look forward to many more years of working together to encourage on-time HPV vaccination to prevent cancer. If you have not yet joined as an organizational or individual partner, you can join today.

Access social media resources (like the image below) celebrating Path to a Bright Future turns 1 on the stjude.org/bright-future website.

In observance of Women’s History Month, we spoke with three outstanding women who have dedicated their careers to studying and preventing HPV and HPV cancers.

These women have inspired their trainees and colleagues, including Heather Brandt, PhD, director of the HPV Cancer Prevention Program. “It was hard to select only a few to feature this month,” Brandt said. “Dr. Coker was one of my earliest mentors in cancer prevention. She taught me to look beyond the surface to really understand determinants of what we observed. Dr. Coker connected me with Dr. Pirisi-Creek, who plugged me in to the International Papillomavirus Society, of which I am still a member today, along with providing other support. I first met Dr. Perkins through the American Public Health Association and the Women’s Caucus, and I am in awe of her brilliance and passion in doing this work as a clinician and a scholar. She has moved our field forward and continues to challenge us to think differently.”

Ann L. Coker, PhD
Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky (UK); Endowed Chair & Interim Executive Director, UK Center for Research on Violence Against Women

Coker began her public health training in the early 1980s. She quickly became aware of the limited attention women’s health care received within medical care and public health, particularly sexual and reproductive health care. As a result, Coker became a women’s health researcher. Her study has included examining the link between HPV and cervical cancer, looking at the health effects of partner violence and sexual violence, and identifying interventions to reduce sexual violence to improve sexual health and reduce HPV.

Since beginning her work in HPV cancer prevention, Coker shared that “without question” the most remarkable change has been the development, testing and widespread availability of the HPV vaccine, which prevents HPV-related cancers. She noted that with the biologic mystery of what causes cervical, anal and some oral cancers now solved, our next step is taking advantage of the HPV vaccine. “With universal HPV vaccination, deaths from HPV cancers would be extremely rare,” she said. “We have the technology. Together we can help create a world free from HPV cancers.”

Lucia A. Pirisi-Creek, MD
Distinguished Professor Emerita, University of South Carolina School of Medicine

After obtaining her M.D. degree in her native Italy, Pirisi-Creek moved to the United States in 1985 to pursue a career in biomedical research at the National Cancer Institute. Pirisi-Creek’s research focus in the HPV field has been on exploring the molecular mechanisms of HPV-mediated transformation in human cells. Along with research of other scientists, this work provided proof that HPV was not only associated with cancers of the uterine, cervix, anal region, head and neck, but that HPV caused them.

Pirisi-Creek has witnessed rapid changes in HPV cancer prevention, from “the initial discovery of HPV to the FDA approval of safe and effective vaccines against HPV, which are, de-facto, the first vaccines aimed at the prevention of cancer.” While she believes that HPV vaccination has the ability to eradicate HPV cancers, Pirisi-Creek noted that additional efforts must be made to communicate that “HPV-driven cancers are preventable by HPV vaccination, and that vaccination itself is safe and effective.” She added that “it’s very important to make sure that parents have access to the facts about HPV vaccination and can make informed decisions for their children.”

Rebecca Perkins, MD
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chobanian and Avedisian Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center

While working in Honduras in 2001, Perkins became aware of the incredible burden of cervical cancer and its associated health disparities. When she began her research career, Perkins focused on reducing this burden and improving these health disparities. Today, her work focuses on cervical cancer prevention in underserved women as well as HPV vaccination in all people.

“HPV vaccination is cancer prevention,” Perkins said. “Vaccinating adolescents now will greatly reduce cancers in their futures.” She noted that ensuring equitable access to HPV vaccination, screening and treatment is critical, adding that low HPV vaccination rates will continue to cause and worsen disparities.

Leading up to International HPV Awareness Day (IHAD) on March 4, the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program hosted a series of virtual seminars, each featuring subject matter experts and focusing on improving HPV vaccination rates among various populations. The week included discussions about HPV vaccination gaps in the southeastern United States, HPV vaccination among childhood cancer survivors, within LGBTQIA+ and in rural communities. If you were unable to join these seminars, you can view the unedited versions using the links below:

February 27: Addressing HPV Vaccination Gaps in the Southeastern U.S.

This seminar focused on gaps in HPV vaccination coverage in southeastern states with a focus on opportunities for action. Co-organizers included the HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast and the Memphis and Shelby County HPV Cancer Prevention Roundtable. Click here to take the evaluation.

February 28: Improving HPV Vaccination Rates among Childhood Cancer Survivors

This seminar focused on understanding and improving gaps in HPV vaccination coverage among childhood cancer survivors by discussing strategies to strengthen provider recommendations following cancer-directed therapy. Click here to take the evaluation.

March 1: Promoting PRIDE in HPV Vaccination among LGBTQIA+ Communities

This seminar focused on promoting HPV vaccination coverage among people who identify as LGTBQIA+. Click here to take the evaluation.

March 3: Wide Open Spaces: Improving HPV Cancer Prevention with Rural Communities

This seminar focused on actions to improve HPV cancer prevention – and specifically HPV vaccination – within rural communities in the United States. Click here to take the evaluation.

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program also hosted a breakfast on March 2 in Nashville for members of the Tennessee General Assembly. We shared information on Path to a Bright Future and highlighted efforts by St. Jude to improve HPV vaccination coverage both in Tennessee and across the nation.

Reinforcing St. Jude HPV cancer prevention efforts and the importance of IHAD, the Tennessee General Assembly issued a proclamation declaring March 4, 2023, International HPV Awareness Day in Tennessee. The proclamation encouraged all Tennesseans to learn more about HPV vaccination and other HPV cancer prevention measures. We thank the Tennessee Assembly for their recognition of IHAD and for bringing attention to HPV cancer prevention.

We are grateful to the moderators, presenters and all those who were able to join us for this year’s IHAD sessions to learn more about HPV vaccination for cancer prevention.

Join us for three virtual meetings to reconvene southeastern states and improve HPV vaccination coverage.

Beginning in September 2022, select representatives of southeastern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia) and Puerto Rico—where the rate of HPV vaccination coverage has historically been the lowest—united with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Cancer Society and the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable to discuss improving HPV vaccination in these regions.

Building on the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable’s efforts, the newly formed HPV Vaccination Roundtable of the Southeast creates a platform for idea sharing and strategic action planning. This meeting series will explore how to prevent HPV cancers in this region for years to come.

By coming together, the southeastern roundtable will focus on:

Current conditions surrounding HPV vaccination and HPV cancer prevention
Replicating HPV vaccination success stories across the Southeast
Overcoming challenges facing HPV vaccination
Opportunities to improve HPV vaccination coverage in each state and the overall region

Virtual meeting series:

March 30, 9-11 a.m. CDT Register
April 27, 9-11 a.m. CDT Register
May 25, 9-11 a.m. CDT Register

If you have questions, email PreventHPV@stjude.org.

During Adolescent Immunization Action Week, April 3-7, St. Jude will join the UNITY Consortium and its member organizations as it urges parents, health care providers and adolescents to help keep adolescents up to date on vaccinations.

Launched in 2022 following a sharp decline in adolescent well visits and vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, Adolescent Immunization Action Week raises awareness about the importance of adolescent vaccinations, including HPV vaccination at ages 9-12. The week also encourages parents and health care providers to help adolescents get caught up or stay up to date on their immunizations. Plus, it reminds us that vaccinations are a safe and effective way to help prevent adolescents and young adults from getting sick and missing school and other activities that are important to them.

Subscribe to the Unity mailing list. Check the AIAW webpage for more information and updates.

Access social media resources (like the image below) celebrating Adolescent Immunization Action Week on the stjude.org/bright-future website.

This month’s Wide Open Spaces offers a recap of the March 3 seminar focused on HPV vaccination with rural communities. This virtual seminar focused on actions to improve HPV cancer prevention – and specifically HPV vaccination – within rural communities in the U.S. The seminar featured two presentations on efforts to improve HPV vaccination with rural communities, a Q&A session between a physician and HPV cancer survivor, and a moderated discussion.

Deanna Kepka, PhD, College of Nursing, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, moderated the session. Benjamin Teeter, PhD, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, presented Improving HPV Vaccination Using Implementation Strategies in Rural Community Pharmacies, which focused on implementation of pharmacy-based services in rural community pharmacies. Arkansas has the highest rate of HPV-associated cancers in the U.S. Teeter’s project worked to determine barriers and facilitators to pharmacy participation in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program and help pharmacies enroll in VFC.

Teeter and his team had many conversations with parents who said their children had received the flu vaccine every year at the pharmacy, so they had no problem with their children getting the HPV vaccine there. They just want communication between the primary care doctor and pharmacists.

Rural communities are tight-knit, and it is important that health care providers and leaders earn the trust of these residents. During another presentation, Using Best Practices to Promote HPV Vaccination among Adolescents in Primary Care Setting, Daisy Y. Morales-Campos, PhD, Latino Research Institute, University of Texas at Austin, emphasized the importance of having community members involved in HPV cancer prevention. In five primary rural and Hispanic counties, Morales-Campos and her team worked in seven clinics to improve HPV vaccination through a cervical cancer prevention program delivered by promotoras, or community health workers.

Community outreach and clinic collaboration is essential to getting messaging out to the public. Including the voices of HPV cancer survivors is even more crucial to get the message across to parents. Anne Zajic, HPV cancer survivor, interviewed L. Joy Baker, MD, FACOG, PMH-C, C-EFM, MT(ASCP), who works in a clinic that provides care to about 100,000 women across six rural counties in Georgia. Zajic also had a chance to give her perspective as a cervical cancer survivor from Kansas, which is a majority rural state.

“What we found in Southern rural black women is they were able to access the screening but less likely to follow up on an abnormal pap test. Many women talked about the distance they had to travel in order to seek treatment… Not only does your region or location play a role, but there are still some lingering effects of systemic racism that are causing us to miss opportunities to care for these folks and prevent cervical cancer,” Baker said.

Similarly, Zajic noted that “misinformation and lack of education regarding HPV is keeping our numbers low for HPV vaccination.”

Overall, it will take the voices of health care providers, parents and survivors to improve HPV cancer prevention with rural communities. It is essential, now more than ever, to address the challenges and barriers that these residents face to provide them with the tools and resources to access quality care to prevent HPV cancers.

We invite guest contributors to share information on how they are working to improve HPV vaccination in rural areas. If you are interested in contributing or learning more about our efforts to improve HPV vaccination with rural communities, please email us at PreventHPV@stjude.org.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) support HPV vaccination starting at age 9. The ACIP, CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Cancer Society (ACS) and the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable all agree that HPV vaccination can start at age 9.

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program joined the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable and ACS to support a special issue of Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics focusing on HPV vaccination starting at age 9. Several articles in the special issue have been published. You can access these articles on the HPV Vaccination Starting at Age 9 landing page.

In addition, video abstracts have been created for selected articles.

The National HPV Vaccination Roundtable has several resources available to support starting HPV vaccination at age 9. Check out the National Roundtable’s Start at Age 9 webpage for access.

Martina Navratilova, well known tennis star and winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles, was recently diagnosed with an HPV-related throat cancer after noticing an enlarged lymph node in her neck. Navratilova announced her stage 1 diagnosis on January 2, 2023. The announcement is bringing international attention to HPV, but you don’t have to be famous to get HPV or an HPV cancer. HPV is extremely common and affects both men and women.

HPV Cancer Survivors School participant Vincent Pawlowski was diagnosed with an HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer nearly five years ago. Pawlowski endured two surgeries, one to remove his lymph nodes and one to remove a tumor that ran from his palate to his lower jaw. He also had radiation, chemotherapy, and swallowing and speech therapies. “With the greatest compassion, I wish that nobody will ever again have to endure what I did,” Pawlowski said. “But I know that until we can raise youth HPV vaccination rates, this cancer will continue to frighten, scar, debilitate and even kill many people.” Vincent, who still has some speech difficulties, is using his experience to educate people about HPV cancers and the importance of HPV vaccination as a cancer prevention tool.

You don’t have to be famous to get HPV cancer. When someone famous – or anyone – gets an HPV cancer, it’s an ideal time to channel their voices for prevention.

Two St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program team members – Heather Brandt, PhD, director, and Andrea Stubbs, administrative director – participated in the leading international multidisciplinary HPV congress, EUROGIN 2023, in Bilbao, Spain. For three decades, EUROGIN has invited HPV-related cancer researchers from all over the world to fight diseases related to HPV. The meeting encourages high-level scientific collaboration and is a great opportunity to discuss ways to reduce the burden of the disease and to apply best practice programs to improve health outcomes.

This year’s theme, Shared Challenges of HPV Driven Cancers, From Research to Practice, offered a variety of educational opportunities to attendees including topics on single-dose HPV vaccination, validation of HPV self-sampling screening programs, and ethical and legal aspects of girls-only vs. gender neutral HPV vaccination.

Learn more about EUROGIN and subscribe to their newsletter to stay up to date about EUROGIN 2024, set for March 13-15 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Alabama

VAX 2 STOP CANCER is hosting its 2nd annual “A Shot at Prevention” luncheon on April 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Club in Birmingham, Alabama. The luncheon will spotlight three key areas related to HPV-associated cancers: cancer prevention, survivorship, and progress in Alabama. The event will help raise funds to decrease the burden of HPV-related cancers. The luncheon will feature Jennifer Pierce, MD, leader of cancer control and prevention for the Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama Health; Traci Richter, Cervical Cancer Survivor and Advocate; and Barbara Schuler, MPH, CEO and Founder VAX 2 STOP CANCER. Learn more and register.

Arkansas

The 2023 HPV Summit, HPV Vaccine Is Cancer Prevention, will take place May 5 at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel, 2 Riverfront Plaza, North Little Rock, Arkansas. The HPV Summit will highlight the connection between HPV and cancer, give providers tools to talk to patients about the benefits of the HPV vaccine, and share best practices on ways to increase HPV immunization rates. The summit has been approved for 5.75 hours of continuing education for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dental professionals and Certified Health Education Specialists. Learn more and register.

Tennessee

Tennessee's Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Immunization Program of the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) invites you to the Immunization Roadshow: Tools & Strategies to Cultivate Vaccine Uptake in Tennessee this April. During this hybrid event, TDH will present resources on topics ranging from vaccine confidence to motivational interviewing, as well as tools for building strong connections to maximize coverage in clinics and regions. The goal is to empower clinicians and practices with educational tools that emphasize the benefits of improving immunization coverage in their communities.

Roadshow dates are:

Knoxville, April 3
Chattanooga, April 4
Memphis, April 11
Nashville April 14

The Memphis and Shelby County Roundtable and the Tigers VAX Now Ambassadors co-hosted “Your Future, Your Decision: Cervical Health Awareness” at the University of Memphis on February 22 to bring attention to HPV vaccination as an important tool to prevent cervical cancer and other HPV cancers. The discussion was led by content experts: Claudette Shephard, MD, chief of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital; Brittany Satterly, MS, PharmD candidate 2024, UTHSC College of Pharmacy; Jacqueline Buford, DNP, clinical associate nursing professor, University of Memphis Loewenberg College of Nursing; and Joyett Wright, cervical cancer survivor, National Cervical Cancer Coalition, Memphis chapter leader. Find more information about the Memphis and Shelby County Roundtable and Tigers VAX Now Ambassadors here.

Duha Magzoub, St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program coordinator, has been selected as a 2023 Emerging Leaders Fellow part of the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable. The Emerging Leader Program is designed to enhance skills while shaping the future of HPV vaccination best practices, health equity and outreach for those early in their career. Fellows will receive mentorship from National HPV Vaccination Roundtable leaders and engage in interactive professional development workshops.

Magzoub’s goal is to bring a fresh, new and diverse perspective to the roundtable. “I look forward to the new opportunities and connections that I will create with the rest of my cohort who share a common goal of increasing HPV vaccination coverage and decreasing HPV cancers,” she said.

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program has two opportunities to expand our team. We will hire two individuals who understand and share our objectives and impetus to improve HPV vaccination uptake in the St. Jude area and beyond.

Program Coordinator-Cancer Center HPV Cancer Prevention
We are looking for exceptional listeners, communicators and teammates with a passion to lead and serve others. Ideal candidates will be able to identify, establish and sustain community partnerships and cultivate a workplace culture of uninhibited idea generation, collaboration and problem-solving. There will be ample opportunities for professional development and growth. Click here to apply today.

Medical Content Writer
St. Jude is looking for an Internal Communication Content Writer to join our team. Using the St. Jude style guide and AP Style, you will write and edit content for internal and external partners of the HPV Cancer Prevention Program. You will work closely with subject matter experts to develop written content and digital materials and help provide strategic communication guidance to all partners of the HPV Cancer Prevention Program. Through building relationships and collaborating with visual media experts, graphic designers and departments, you will develop ideas, research concepts and create materials to communicate information to target audiences. Responsibilities will also include interviewing St. Jude faculty, staff members and external partners; producing content on deadline for a variety of publications; writing, reviewing and editing content; and planning and executing new projects. Click here to apply today.

March is here, and spring is less than two weeks away. The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program team shared what they are ready to do to celebrate and usher in the season. Spoiler alert: A lot of us are looking forward to the vibrant green and blooms that come with spring.

“I am ready and excited to repot my plants and let them get some fresh air after winter.” – Alison Footman, postdoctoral fellow

“I am ready to do some cleaning, mainly two things: my closet and my garden. I can't wait to pack all my coats, sweaters and jeans and get my spring and summer clothes out of my closet. Regarding cleaning my garden, I am planning to remove all the dead plants and start planting beautiful new plants.” – Pragya Gautam Poudel, postdoctoral fellow

“I love the spring. The spring gives me the feeling of new opportunities! I also love that the weather is just right to enjoy being outside.” – Portia Knowlton, program coordinator

“I'm ready to put away all my winter clothing and dust off the lawn chairs to get ready for spring.” – Ursula Leflore, administrative specialist

“I am ready to buy more plants to welcome the new season!” – Duha Magzoub, program coordinator

“Spring is a reminder of renewal as the earth opens back up in full bloom. I love taking a long walk or bike ride to appreciate nature coming to life.” – Carol Minor, program coordinator

“During the spring my family and I walk almost every day at Shelby Farms Park. We love to be outdoors during the spring before the blazing heat of Memphis summers.” – Julia Neely, program manager

“I was born in the spring, and I love that my birthday usually brings rainy days that make way for beautiful flowers to bloom in May.” – Andrea Stubbs, administrative director

“I enjoy the renewal that comes with spring. What was once dormant becomes alive again.” – Heather Brandt, director

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program’s Path to a Bright Future campaign spotlights the benefits of on-time HPV vaccination to prevent cancer in children ages 9–12. The campaign also raises awareness of the dangers of HPV pre-cancers and cancers.

Join us:

Get your child vaccinated against HPV by their 13th birthday: If you or your child is in the recommended age range (ages 9–26 and possibly until age 45), get vaccinated.
Encourage others to get their children vaccinated: Normalize HPV vaccination as cancer prevention.
Share the facts: HPV vaccination is safe, effective, and durable. It prevents 6 types of cancer.

Learn more and join the campaign.