Pediatria pre prax 5/2014

HPV vaccines: history, current experiences and future

Results of epidemiological, molecular-biological, and immunological research identified oncogenic types of human papillomaviruses (HPV) as an etiological factor for cervical cancer (CC) and a significant portion of malignancies in anogenital region and head and neck cancers. Prophylactic HPV vaccines, available since 2006, prevent persistent infection with vaccinal HPV types as well as development of associated lesions with maximal efficacy in HPV naive children. Though the significant drop of CC incidence might be anticipated in population with high coverage of HPV vaccination in tens of years, in much shorter horizon the decrease of vaccinal HPV types-linked lesions incidence, frequency of surgical procedures and associated health care costs could be expected.

Keywords: papillomaviruses, HPV vaccines.