Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Elicited by Dendritic Cell-Targeted Delivery of HPV Type-16 E6/E7 Fusion Gene

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer and leading cause of cancer-related death to women in worldwide (Zeng et al., 2011). Human papillomavirus (HPV) which presents in 99% of cervical cancer cases is one of the causative agents of cervical cancer (Walboomers et al., 1999). This small, non-enveloped DNA virus that infects epithelial cells of skin and mucosa, which only replicates in differentiating keratinocytes. Infection of the mucosa with high-risk HPV types is considered as the single most important etiological factor in cervical carcinogenesis. Particularly HPV-16, is found in over 50% of squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix (MildeLangosch et al., 2000; zur Hausen, 2000). Despite the recent development of various therapeutic strategies, there is no specific therapy available for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix and its precursor lesions. Millions of patients suffer from HPV-associated morbidity or mortality (Parkin et al., 2006). An estimated 5 million