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ZENODO
Article . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Article . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Article . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Parasitic Infections, Antiparasitic Treatment, and the Global Burden of Infection-Associated Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Authors: Pratibha Kale , Abhishek Kumar , Ramji Thakur;

Parasitic Infections, Antiparasitic Treatment, and the Global Burden of Infection-Associated Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Parasitic infections remain highly prevalent in many low- and middle-income countries and represent an underrecognized contributor to infection-associated cancers. Certain helminths have been classified as definite human carcinogens, yet the magnitude of their impact on global cancer burden and the potential preventive role of antiparasitic interventions remain incompletely defined. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized epidemiological evidence linking parasitic infections to cancer and evaluated the effect of control strategies on long-term cancer risk. A comprehensive search of major databases from inception to December 2025 identified observational and interventional studies reporting associations between parasitic infections and malignancy. Random-effects meta-analysis was conducted for parasite–cancer pairs with sufficient comparable data. Sixty-eight studies met inclusion criteria, and thirty-nine were included in quantitative synthesis. Infection with Schistosoma haematobium was associated with a significantly increased risk of bladder cancer (pooled OR 2.18; 95% CI 1.72–2.76), while liver fluke infections (Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis) were strongly associated with cholangiocarcinoma (pooled OR 4.12; 95% CI 3.01–5.64). Heterogeneity across studies was moderate to high but did not materially alter overall conclusions in sensitivity analyses. Ecological and observational evidence suggests that sustained antiparasitic mass drug administration programs may contribute to reductions in infection-associated cancer burden, although high-quality longitudinal data are limited due to long latency periods. These findings underscore the substantial oncologic consequences of chronic parasitic infections and support integration of parasite control into broader cancer prevention strategies, particularly in endemic regions

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    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
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    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
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    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
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    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green
Related to Research communities
Cancer Research