Journal Article

The known unknowns of HPV natural history

Gravitt, Patti E.

2011

Overview

The discovery that certain high-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) cause nearly 100% of invasive cervical cancer has spurred a revolution in cervical cancer prevention by promoting the development of viral vaccines. Although the efficacy of these vaccines has already been demonstrated, a complete understanding of viral latency and natural immunity is lacking, and solving these mysteries could help guide policies of cervical cancer screening and vaccine use. Here, we examine the epidemiological and biological understanding of the natural history of HPV infection, with an eye toward using these studies to guide the implementation of cervical cancer prevention strategies.

• Publisher: American Society for Clinical Investigation
• Subject: Adult / Alphapapillomavirus - classification / Alphapapillomavirus - immunology / Alphapapillomavirus - physiology / Antibodies, Viral - biosynthesis / Antibodies, Viral - blood / Antibodies, Viral - immunology / Biomedical research / Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - etiology / Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - prevention & control / Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - virology / Care and treatment / Cervical cancer / Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia - etiology / Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia - prevention & control / Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia - virology / Complications and side effects / Diagnosis / Disease prevention / Disease Progression / DNA Probes, HPV / Female / Genetic testing / Human papillomavirus / Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine Quadrivalent, Types 6, 11, 16, 18 / Humans / Immunocompromised Host / Infections / Male / Mass Screening / Medical screening / Middle Aged / Natural history / Papillomavirus infections / Papillomavirus Infections - immunology / Papillomavirus Infections - physiopathology / Papillomavirus Infections - prevention & control / Papillomavirus Infections - transmission / Papillomavirus Infections - virology / Papillomavirus Vaccines / Probability / Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Review / Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - etiology / Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - prevention & control / Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - virology / Uterine Cervicitis - diagnosis / Uterine Cervicitis - epidemiology / Uterine Cervicitis - prevention & control / Uterine Cervicitis - virology / Vaccines / Vaginal Smears / Viral infections / Virus Activation / Virus Latency / Womens health / Young Adult