Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause of many epithelial lesions especially benign hyperplasia with low malignant potential such as warts and papillomas in humans. A sub-group of HPVs, which associated with cancerous lesions, has been called as "high-risk" HPV. Mainly cervical cancer and other various types of cancer arise a small percentage of persons infected with high-risk HPV, usually 10-20 years later onset of infection. Cervical cancer is one of the ten most common cancer types among women in our country and it is the second most frequently occurring cancer and second most common cause of death from cancer worldwide among women. Cervical cancers are detected in the early stages by screening programs owing to malignant transformation occurs after a long latency period in high-risk HPV infections. Screening programs and preventive strategies have significantly decreased the incidence of cervical cancer and cervical cancer mortality rates in developed countries. Pathogenesis, epidemiology, transmission routes and risk factors of HPV infections have been explained briefly in this paper. In addition, the article presents a current overview of screening and vaccination programs and other strategies for the prevention of HPV infection and associated lesions.
Key words: HPV, infection, risk factors, preventive measures Article Language: Turkish English
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