Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the second–most common cancer among women worldwide today. According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that 10,520 cases of invasive cervical cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year, and 3,710 women are predicted to die from cervical cancer. In developing countries, cervical cancer kills approximately 200,000 women each year.

When detected early, cervical cancer is 100% preventable.

Overview of HPV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is now recognized as the primary causal factor in the development of cervical disease and cervical cancer. To date, more than 100 types of HPV have been characterized and fall into two types:

·         “Low–risk” types of HPV are mainly associated with genital warts.

·         “High-risk” types of HPV are found in more than 99.7% of cervical cancer cases. High–risk HPV infection is necessary for subsequent cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL), and high–risk HPV infection is a significant risk factor for high–grade cervical disease. Dysplasia or CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) caused by HPV may gradually develop into cervical cancer if not treated. 

Only women with persistent HPV infection are at risk for cervical cancer. HPV infection can be latent for many years. Most women will clear an HPV infection within 9–15 months. However, women with persistent high–risk HPV infection are 300 times more likely to develop HSIL.

HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevalence – National Cancer Institute SEER data 1990–1994