Genomics of cervical cancer and the role of human papillomavirus pathobiology.

Cervical cancer represents one of the most common malignancies in women worldwide and predominantly affects women of poor socioeconomic status. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is an essential factor for development of cervical cancer. HPV infection is also associated with cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, and oropharynx. Globally, an estimated 610 000 (4.8%) of the 12.7 million new cancer cases that occurred in 2008 could be attributed to HPV infection, and 500 000 of those cases represent cancers of the cervix alone (1 ). Within the last 2 decades, research has culminated in major advances in techniques for cervical cancer screening using HPV DNA and has led to a vaccine to prevent HPV infection. Yet, our strategies for the care and treatment of today’s patients already infected with HPV need urgent attention. Women diagnosed with invasive and metastatic cervical cancer are in critical need of more-sophisticated prognostic markers, targeted therapeutic options, and more-accurate surveillance strategies.