Preventive and Therapeutic Vaccines against Human Papillomaviruses Associated Cervical Cancers

Cervical cancer is, globally known to be, one of the most common cancers among women especially indeveloping countries. More than ۹۰% of cervical cancers are associated with high-risk humanpapillomaviruses (HPVs) particularly HPV types ۱۶ and ۱۸. Two major strategies have been developed forprevention and treatment of cervical cancer and other HPV-associated malignancies; the first one is based onHPV virus-like particles (VLPs) containing HPV structural proteins. VLP based vaccines can inducegenotype specific virus neutralizing antibodies for preventing HPV infections. The other strategy is based onHPV early genes especially E۶ and E۷ for eliminating the established HPV infections; therefore they areclassified as HPV therapeutic vaccines. This article reviews the preventive and therapeutic vaccines againstHPV infections and cervical cancer.

Keywords:

Cervical Cancer , Human papillomavirus , Preventive vaccine , Therapeutic vaccine