Cervical cancer is an infectious disease caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). This finding and its link to cervical cancer awarded Zur Hausen the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work on HPV.
HPV is a necessary, but not sufficient cause
More than 200 different HPV genotypes have now been described, although not all of them have oncogenic capacity, and it is the high-risk ones that can develop cancer. HPV is acquired by direct contact, mainly through sexual intercourse, and it is estimated that 80% of sexually active people have had contact with the virus at some time in their lives. Most infections are acquired within the first few years of intercourse, but 90% are cleared by their own immunity within one to two years. Having the virus does not mean developing cancer. HPV is a necessary but not sufficient cause for developing cervical cancer, as this requires viral persistence.
In Spain it is estimated that around 2 million women are carriers of the virus, although fortunately the evolution of the disease is slow. In Europe, the estimated burden of disease is 52,000 cancers caused by HPV, and HPV affects both sexes. In 2020, 1941 cervical cancers were diagnosed in Spain.
Almost 100% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV.
In our country we currently have three vaccines available. The bivalent and tetravalent cover 70% of cervical cancers and the nonavalent with a coverage of 90%. Banishing cervical cancer is near and in our hands. Cytology and viral typing are still necessary for the prevention of lesions, but universal vaccination, in conjunction with regular screening, will eradicate cervical cancer and reduce human papillomavirus cancers in both sexes.