The use of vaccines in treating cervical cancer: present status and future prospects

Abstract

HPV types are carcinogenic agents in cervical cancer. This view is supported by epidemiological and biological evidence. The oncogenic products and capsid proteins of high risk HPV types are potential targets against which effective immunity may be generated by vaccination. Both therapeutic and prophlylactic immunisation are potential strategies to deal with the widespread problem of HPV infection and possibly established cervical neoplasia. Clinical trials are now underway to evaluate candidate vaccines.

Cervical Cancer and Human Papillomavirus Awareness among Women in Antigua and Barbuda

“…The relatively high awareness was significantly due to a high education level, internet usage and robust health education provided at community and private clinics. The prevalence of HPV, insufficient preventive services, inadequate treatment access, socioeconomic conditions, certain cultural causes and values, and opinions about cervical cancer have been established as factors contributing to the occurrence of cervical cancer in women living in various parts of the world [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Due to the difficulty of implementing Pap smear screening programs and the lack of access to the HPV vaccine, the burden of cervical cancer remains disproportionately high in low- and middle-income countries, with more than 85% of worldwide cervical cancer deaths occurring in these regions.…”

Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer: Not Just a Sexually Transmitted Disease

“…All of the vaccines employ genetic engineering to manipulate and transfer genes from one organism to another. This approach is safer and creates fewer side effects than vaccines made of whole organisms (Fausch, Da Silva, Eiben, Le Poole, & Kast, 2003;Moniz, Ling, Hung, & Wu, 2003;Onon & Kitchener, 1999). The HPV-16 vaccine recently was found to reduce the incidence of HPV-16 infection and HPV-16-related cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in a randomized doubleblind study of 2,392 women who received either the HPV-16 vaccine or a placebo , and researchers have theorized that immunizing HPV-16-negative women eventually may reduce the incidence of cervical cancer (Hughes, Garnett, & Koutsky, 2002).…”

Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer: where are we now?

“…Although testing for HPV in detection, monitoring and preventing invasive disease is important, the ultimate aim must be eradication of high risk HPV by vaccination 129 . The immune system controls both the primary infection (producing antibodies against the capsid), and progression (via cytotoxic T cells specific for viral oncoproteins such as E6 and E7).…”

“…There have been several advances in papillomavirus vaccines, for which readers are directed to other resources 129,133 . Virus‐like particles expressing L1 structural proteins are the leading competitors in obtaining protective immunity and are being developed by several research teams.…”