Can cervical cancer be eradicated by prophylactic HPV vaccination? Challenges to vaccine implementation

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the first cancer to be shown to be 100 per cent attributable to a virus; oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPV), particularly types 16 and 18, collectively worldwide contribute to 70 per cent squamous cell carcinomas, 85 per cent of adenocarcinomas. Cervical cancer is the second commonest cancer of women, yet largely preventable with high-quality, well-organized screening of the appropriate population. Screening programmes are either nonexistent, or function opportunistically in many poorer countries, resulting in high incidence and mortality. Recently developed, prophylactic HPV vaccines against HPV 16, 18, as cervical cancer preventative vaccines, in phase 3 clinical tri..