The history of the generation of an hypothesis linking human papillomavirus to cervical cancer, as well as a summary of the various molecular epidemiological studies undertaken to confirm such hypothesis are described.

Keywords:
Cervical cancer, causation, Cervical cancer, prevention, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex type 2, Human papillomavirus
1.
Muñoz N: Model systems for cervical cancer. Cancer Res 1976;36:792–793.
2.
zur Hausen H: Condylomata acuminata and human genital cancer. Cancer Res 1976;36:794.
3.
Gissmann L, zur Hausen H: Human papillomavirus DNA: physical characterization and genetic heterogeneity. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1976;73:1310–1313.
4.
Durst M, Gissmann L, zur Hausen H: A papillomavirus DNA from a cervical carcinoma and prevalence in cancer biopsy samples from different geographical regions. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1983;80:3812–3815.
5.
Muñoz N, Bosch FX, Kaldor JM: Does human papillomavirus cause cervical cancer? The state of the epidemiological evidence. Br J Cancer 1988;57:1–5.
6.
Muñoz N, Bosch FX, Jensen OM (eds): Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer. IARC Scientific Publication No. 94. Lyon, IARC, 1989.
7.
Muñoz N, Bosch FX, Shah KV, Meheus A (eds): The Epidemiology of Cervical Cancer and Human Papillomavirus. IARC Scientific Publication No. 119. Lyon, IARC, 1992.
8.
Muñoz N, Bosch FX, de Sanjosé S, et al: The causal link between human papillomavirus and invasive cervical cancer: a population-based case-control study in Colombia and Spain. Int J Cancer 1992;52:743–749.
9.
Muñoz N, Bosch FX, de Sanjosé S, et al, for the International Agency for Research on Cancer Multicenter Cervical Cancer Study Group: Epidemiologic classification of human papillomavirus types associated with cervical cancer. N Eng J Med 2003;348:518–527.
10.
Muñoz N, Franceschi S, Bosetti C, et al, for the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Multicentric Cervical Cancer Study Group (2002): Role of parity and human papillomavirus in cervical cancer: the IARC multicentric case-control study. Lancet 2002;359:1093–1101.
11.
Muñoz N, Castellsagué X, de Gonzalez AB, Gismann L: Chapter 1: HPV in the etiology of human cancer. Vaccine 2006;24:1–10.
12.
Muñoz N, Castellsagué X, Bosch FX, Tafur L, de Sanjosé S, Aristizabal N, Ghaffari AM, Shah KV: Difficulty in elucidating the male role in Colombia, a high-risk area for cervical cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1996;88:1068–1075.
13.
Castellsagué X, Bosch FX, Muñoz N, Meijer CJLM, Shah KV, de Sanjosé S, Eluf-Neto J, Ngelangel C, Chichareon S, Smith JS, Herrero R, Franceschi S, for the International Agency for Research on Cancer Multicenter Cervical Cancer Study Group: Male circumcision, penile human papillomavirus infection, and cervical cancer. N Engl J Med 2002;346:1105–1112.
14.
Walboomers JMM, Jacobs MV, Manos MM, Bosch FX, Kummer JA, Shah KV, Snijders PJF, Peto J, Meijer CJLM, Muñoz N: Human papillomavirus is a necessary cause of invasive cervical cancer worldwide. J Pathol 1999;189:12–19.
15.
Muñoz N, Bosch FX, Castellsagué X, Diaz M, de Sanjosé S, Hammouda D, Shah KV, Meijer CJLM: Against which human papillomavirus types shall we vaccinate and screen? The international perspective. Int J Cancer 2004;111:278–285.
16.
Ault KA; Future II Study Group: Effect of prophylactic human papillomavirus L1 virus-like-particle vaccine on risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2, grade 3, and adenocarcinoma in situ: a combined analysis of four randomised clinical trials. Lancet 2007;369:1861–1868.
17.
Paavonen J, Jenkins D, Bosch FX, Naud P, Salmeron J, Wheeler CM, et al: Efficacy of a prophylactic adjuvanted bivalent L1 virus-like-particle vaccine against infection with human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 in young women: an interim analysis of a phase III double-blind, randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2007;369:2161–2170.
18.
Villa LL, Costa RLR, Petta CA, et al: High sustained efficacy of a prophylactic quadrivalent human papillomavirus types 6/11/ 16/18 L1 virus-like particle vaccine through 5 years of follow-up. Br J Cancer 2006;95:1459–1466.
19.
Muñoz N, Franco EL, Herrero R, Andrus JK, de Quadros CA, Bosch FX: Recommendations for cervical cancer prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vaccine 2008;26:L96–L107.
20.
Cuzick J, Clavel C, Petry KU, Meijer CJLM, Hoyer H, Ratnam S, et al: Overview of the European and North American studies on HPV testing in primary cervical cancer screening. Int J Cancer 2006;119:1095–1105.
21.
Franco EL, Tsu V, Herrero R, Lazcano-Ponce E, Hildesheim A, Muñoz N, et al: Integration of human papillomavirus vaccination and cervical cancer screening in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vaccine 2008;26:L88–L95.
22.
Goldie SJ, Diaz M, Constela D, Alvis N, Andrus JK, Kim SY: Mathematical models of cervical cancer prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vaccine 2008;26:L59–L72.
23.
Qiao YL, Sellors J, Eder PS, et al: A new test for cervical cancer screening in developing regions: a cross-sectional study of clinical accuracy in rural China. Lancet Oncol 2008;9:929–936.
24.
Sankaranayanan R, Nene BM, Shastri SS, et al: HPV screening for cervical cancer in rural India. N Engl J Med 2009;360: 1385–1394.
© 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel
2009
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.