Cervical Cancer

Study shows significant genomic differences between tumors caused by different strains of human papillomavirus.

Although testing and vaccination for the human papillomavirus have decreased the number of cervical cancer deaths, the disease remains the fourth most common cancer type in women.

Cervical cancer screening rates in Japan were significantly affected in the years following the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, suggesting that disasters can affect cervical cancer screening for years.

Two studies published in The Lancet have developed models to examine what may happen if the World Health Organization commits to a 3-part strategy to end cervical cancer.

The CDC has reported 34800 new cancer diagnoses linked to HPV annually, and the virus is predicted to account for more than 90% of all cervical and anal cancers, more than 60% of all penile cancers, and 70% of all oral cancers.

Precancerous cervical lesions, known as high-grade cervical lesions (CIN2+) can develop a few years after infection and have been used to monitor human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine impact since cancers can take decades to develop.

The findings reinforce the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer.