Overview
- HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is extremely common worldwide and is mainly transmitted through sexual contact; most people are infected shortly after the onset of sexual activity.
- There are >200 types of HPV, of which at least 12 are cancer-causing (oncogenic or high-risk types).
- HPV is a causal factor for several anogenital and a subset of oropharyngeal cancers, with types 16 and 18 causing 72% of all HPV-associated cancers.
- Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, with nearly 90% of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
- Comprehensive cervical cancer control includes primary prevention (vaccination against HPV), secondary prevention (screening and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions), and treatment of invasive cervical cancer.
- Currently licensed vaccines are L1 VLP-based and prophylactic; they are safe and highly effective in preventing HPV infections, HPV-associated lesions, precancer, and cancer.
- Neutralizing antibodies are the mechanism of protection for prophylactic HPV VLP-based vaccines.
- Therapeutic HPV vaccines targeting the oncoproteins E6 and E7 are in clinical development.
