Anti human papillomavirus vaccine: the checkmate to human papillomavirus?
Moscarini, M.; Lukic, A.; Franco, C.
European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology 25(2): 151-156
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0392-2936 PMID: 15032271 Document Number: 579031
Cervical cancer is the second most frequently found neoplasia in women worldwide. At least 95% of cervical cancers contain viral DNA which, in 80% of cases, belongs to one of the human papillomavirus (HPV) viral types at high oncogenic risk: 16, 18, 31 and 45. HPV is, at this point, considered the first "necessary cause" of cervical cancer, against which primary prevention with a reduction in the risk of infection can be carried out. Numerous molecular biological studies have been conducted to identify the biological markers of this infection and to refine an effective and well tolerated vaccine capable of preventing HPV infection as well as possibly treating those cases in which the infection has already caused an HPV-related disease of the genital tract. In the near future, the real primary prevention of this disease will be conducted, similar to what occurred for Hepatitis B, using immunoprophylaxis with an anti-cancer vaccine.