A study published today in the journal Cancer suggests that cancers of the tongue and tonsils may be associated with the HPV virus that is linked to  cervical cancer. The theory is that  boys may contract the cancer through oral sex.  No surprise, the media is now asking: "Should boys be vaccinated with Garadasil too? (See my post below on Direct-to-Consumer advertising recommending Gardasil, a vaccine the against some cases of cervical cancer, for girls.)

The Wall Street Journal’s Health Blog takes a cautious approach pointing out, first, that "HPV’s connection to  to oral cancer isn’t as clear-cut as its role in cervical cancer," though  a New England Journal of Medicine article published earlier this year suggested a strong association. Moreover, while Merck and its rival GlaxoSmithKline (which is also developing a vaccine for cervical cancer) have done some  research on using their HPV vaccines in boys, they have even less data for boys than they have girls.  Finally,  "this form of cancer is rare.  . . .So for the time being, the vaccine, which costs $360 for a three-dose regimen, seems unlikely to be given to boys."

The Journal’s healthblog also notes that one of the study’s two authors "has worked as a consultant for GlaxoSmithKline."