Immunotherapeutic strategies for cervical squamous carcinoma

Cervical carcinoma is the second most frequent cause of death from gynecolo gic cancer among women in the Western world and the primary cause of cancer -related death in undeveloped countries. The origin of cervical abnormaliti es is strongly associated with infection from human papillomavirus (HPV), e specially oncogenic types 16, 18, 31, and 33. Because HPV 16 genes E6 and E 7 are retained in most cervical abnormalities, they form attractive targets for T-cell-based immunotherapy of cervical carcinoma. In addition, the ind uction of neutralizing antibodies to virions of HPV 16 may produce preventi ve immunity. This article discusses the recent developments and clinical pr ospects for both preventive and therapeutic vaccines against both HPV infec tions and cervical cancer.