Modern Approaches to Prevention and Control of Cancer of the Uterine Cervix in Women

Abstract

Cancer of uterine cervix is a major reproductive public health problem in developing countries. Infection of human  papillomavirus (HPV) mainly with high-risk HPV Type 16 is the most crucial event in malignant transformation and the leading cause of cervical cancer in women. Early cancer detection using newer diagnostic modalities should improve the clinical outcome by detecting the disease at an early stage and thus minimizing  the morbidity and improving survival. Since persistence of  oncogenic HPV infection is important for tumorigenic  transformation, analysis of their physical status has prognostic significance. Although two successful prophylactic HPV vaccines  (Gardasil and Cervarix) are available for primary prevention, the extremely valuable effects of cytological Pap smear screening,  VIA and HPV DNA testing cannot be ruled out. This paper reviews the use of prognostic biomarkers, different prevention strategies and newer therapeutic approaches against cervical cancer.