Globally, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infection. HPV is linked to at least five malignancies including vulvar, vaginal, anal penile, oropharyngeal, and cervical cancer. Three HPV vaccines are currently available: bivalent (HPV 16,18), quadrivalent (HPV 6,11,16,18), and nonavalent (6,11,16,18,31,33,45,52,58) targeting between 2 and 7 oncogenic HPV serotypes. This review highlights the currently epidemiologic burden of HPV-related cancers, efficacy of current HPV vaccines, and speculates about the benefits of widespread HPV vaccination. At present, all three vaccines are effective in reducing cervical disease and anogenital dysplasia in industry sponsored clinical trials and in limited study of clinical effectiveness. Models predict elimination of HPV infection with global vaccination rates of 80% and benefits in reducing malignancy at 20% global coverage. Large population-based clinical efficacy studies of these vaccines will be necessary to assess the true impact of vaccination. HPV vaccines provide a promising primary approach to preventing malignancy and barriers to vaccine access must be addressed to meet vaccination goals.
Current problems in cancer. 2018 Jun 23 [Epub ahead of print]
Jessica St Laurent, Rebecca Luckett, Sarah Feldman
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: ., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts., Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: .