Role of human papilloma virus in diagnosis, monitoring and profnosis of cervical cancer

Currently, cytological screening used alone does not allow gynecologists to solve the problem of early detection of cervical cancer. Data of multicenter prospective studies and meta-analyses indicate that a human papillomavirus (HPV) test is more sensitive than cytological screening. The use of both screening methods (cytological and HPV-test) allows the interval between screenings to be increased to 6 years decreasing no screening efficacy. Distribution of HPV genotypes in different regions influences on HPV-test efficacy. In Russia, HPV16 and 18 are the most common types found in cervical cancer patients. Data obtained from the N.N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology show that HPV types 16, 33 and 18 are the most prevalent in patients with cervical cancer and 67 % of these patients have more than one HPV types. Proportion of single and multiple HPV type infections is associated with neoplastic transformation and disease progression. The key factor in neoplastic transformation of cervical cells is HPV DNA persistence and integration, and progression of cervical cancer is followed by the detection of HPV DNA in lymph nodes. The use of the modern methods of HPV DNA identification contributes to the improvement of early detection, monitoring and prognosis of cervical cancer.