Human papillomavirus-associated cervical cancer:Prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines

摘要

Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in reproductive age women. Although effective screening programs have decreased the incidence of cervical cancer in developed countries, they are too expensive for comprehensive use in developing countries. Since 60-80% of cervical cancers are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 and HPV-18 infections, antigens encoded by these viruses are obvious targets for prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. Prophylactic vaccines aim to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer by preventing virus infection through induction of virus neutralizing antibodies against capsid proteins. Therapeutic vaccines are designed to induce cellular immune responses able to clear persistent infections with HPV or to eradicate cells transformed by HPV’s oncoproteins. A number of candidate prophylactic and therapeutic HPV vaccines have been developed and tested in animal models and are now approaching clinical trials.