Demonstrating the Importance of Different HPVs in Cervical Cancer and Other HPV-Related Cancers

Abstract Certain genotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) are the necessary cause of cervical cancer, and the etiological cause of a fraction of anogenital and head and neck carcinomas. Nowadays, 13 HPV types have been classified definitely or probably as carcinogenic and 12 types as possibly carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) being HPV16 the most carcinogenic genotype. The carcinogenic classification of HPVs is based on extensive molecular epidemiologic studies and biological evidence conducted during the last decades and due to the strong collaboration between laboratory scientists and epidemiologists who aimed to discover the etiological cause of cervical cancer. HPV16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 52, and 58 are the most frequent carcinogenic HPVs and are responsible for about 90% cervical cancer. Since 2006, three efficacious prophylactic vaccines have been licensed and are being used in most countries. The demonstration of HPV as a necessary cause of cervical cancer has been also translated into the refinement of screening strategies using HPV testing to detect precancerous lesions. Public health strategies based on HPV vaccination and HPV assays for primary screening have been proposed for the elimination of cervical cancer.