• A Review of Human Papilloma Virus and Cervical Cancer
  • Saman Hakimian,1 Mohammad Shayestehpour,2 Shaghayegh Yazdani,3,*
    1. Department of Microbiology , Faculty of Advanced Science & Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamc Azad University, Tehran, Iran
    2. Autoimmune Diseases Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, I.R. Iran
    3. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Advanced Science & Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran


  • Introduction: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a DNA virus with more than 170 types. High-risk HPVs can be linked to cancers. Most HPV infections (9 out of 10) go away by themselves within two years, but sometimes HPV infections will last longer, and can cause certain types of cancers including cervix, vagina, and vulva in women, penis in men, anus and back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils (oropharynx), in both women and men
  • Methods: Cancer often occurs during years, even decades, after a person gets HPV, and there is no way to know which people who have HPV will develop cancer. HPV causes nearly all cervical cancers. Cervical cancer is considered a largely preventable disease because of population-based screening and more recent vaccination programs in high income countries, although it remains the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. Of the estimated 527,600 new cases and 265,700 related deaths annually, most occur in women living in low- and middle-income countries. It is well established, both epidemiologically and mechanistically, that cervical cancer and its premalignant precursor stages (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [CIN]) are causally related to oncogenic types of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Most women across the globe are infected at least once with 1 or more HPV types in their lifetime, but demonstrable persistence of oncogenic HPV types poses a direct risk of progression to premalignancy and invasive cervical cancer in only some individuals. This suggests that other, largely undetermined cofactors are important.
  • Results: CDC and WHO recommended HPV vaccination at ages 11-12 year to protect people against cancers associated with this virus. Gardasil 9, a new HPV vaccine, protects human against nine types of virus, including two low-risk plus the seven high-risk HPV types. Some HPV infections can lead to cancer, most HPV infections (9 out of 10) go away by themselves within two years. But, sometimes HPV infections will last longer, and can cause certain types of cancers.
  • Conclusion: HPV infections can cause cancers of the: • Cervix, Vagina, and Vulva in Women; • Penis in Men • Anus and back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils (oropharynx), in both Women and Men. All boys and girls get two doses of the HPV vaccine at ages 11 or 12. HPV vaccination can be started at age 9. For the HPV vaccine to be most effective, the series should be given prior to exposure to HPV. HPV vaccine is recommended at ages 11 to 12 to ensure children are protected long before they are ever exposed to the virus. Children who get the first does their 15th birthday only need two doses. Children who get the first does after their 15th birthday need three doses.
  • Keywords: Human Papilloma Virus, Cervical Cancer, High Risk, DNA