#PAGE_PARAMS# #ADS_HEAD_SCRIPTS# #MICRODATA#

HPV infection and its significance in the development and prevention of cervical cancer


Authors: Mgr. Mgr. Juríková Zuzana Mihal Et;  prof. Ing. Hernychová Lenka, Ph.D.
Authors‘ workplace: Výzkumné centrum aplikované molekulární onkologie, MOÚ, Brno
Published in: Klin Onkol 2026; 39(4): 262-265
Category: Review
doi: https://doi.org/10.48095/ccko2026262

Overview

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease associated with the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer. HPV types are classified as high-risk due to their ability to induce malignant transformation of epithelial cells. These oncogenic variants are considered the main etiological factor in the development of cervical cancer. Objective: The aim of the review article is to summarize current knowledge on the importance of early diagnosis of HPV infection in the context of prevention and early detection of cervical cancer. Special attention is paid to the multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment. The review article highlights the importance of comprehensive diagnostics based on a combination of cytological, molecular-biological and visual methods, as well as current trends in the field of prevention, including HPV self-collection tests and prophylactic vaccination. Conclusion: A comprehensive strategy for early diagnosis of HPV infections, including the use of modern molecular-biological diagnostic methods, organized screening, and prophylactic vaccination, has been shown to reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer. The application of an integrated and multidisciplinary approach increases the effectiveness of preventive measures and is a key prerequisite for further improvement of public health outcomes.

Keywords:

cervical cancer – screening – human papillomavirus – cervical intraepithelial neoplasia – prophylactic vaccination – HPV diagnosis


Sources

1. World Health Organization. Cervical cancer. Geneva: WHO 2024. [online]. Available from: https: //www.who.int/health-topics/cervical-cancer.

2. Májek O, Dvořák V, Dušek L et al. Cervix.cz –⁠ Program screeningu karcinomu děložního hrdla v České republice. Praha: ÚZIS ČR 2025. [online]. Dostupné z: https: //www.cervix.cz.

3. hpvguide. Vynikající péče o zdraví žen v ČR se může ještě zlepšit. [online]. Dostupné z: https: //www.hpvguide.eu/vysledky-studie-libuse.

4. Národní zdravotnický informační portál. Rakovina děložního čípku: příčiny a příznaky. Praha: Ministerstvo zdravotnictví ČR a Ústav zdravotnických informací a statistiky ČR 2026. [online]. Dostupné z: https: //www.nzip.cz.

5. Urosanté. Sexuálně přenosné choroby. [online]. Dostupné z: https: //urosante.cz/andrologie/sexualne-prenosne-choroby/.

6. Weismanová E, Weismann P. HPV a krčok maternice: genetická podstata malígnej transformácie bunky. Onkológia 2008; 3 (6): 389–392.

7. Kolníková G, Kolník P. Význam laboratórnej diagnostiky ľudských papilomavírusov. Onkológia 2008; 3 (4): 233–236.

8. Darragh TM, Colgan TJ, Cox JT et al. The lower anogenital squamous terminology standardization project for HPV-associated lesions: background and consensus recommendations from the College of American Pathologists and the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology. J Low Genit Tract Dis 2012; 16 (3): 205–242. doi: 10.1097/LGT.0b013e31825c31dd.

9. Fait T. Dnešní situace v boji s HPV infekcí. Med Praxi 2020; 17 (4): 253–257.

10. Gravitt PE, Coutlée F, Iftner T et al. New technologies in cervical cancer screening. Vaccine 2008; 26 (Suppl 10): K42–K52. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.05.002.

11. Castle PE. Gynaecological cancer: new standard of care –⁠ HPV testing for cervical cancer screening. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2015; 12 (4): 194–196. doi: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2015.37.

12. Mouková L, Feranec R, Chovanec J. Prekancerózy v gynekologii –⁠ děložní hrdlo. Klin Onkol 2013; 26 (Suppl): S49–S51.

13. Saslow D, Solomon D, Herschel W et al. American Cancer Society, American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology, and American Society for Clinical Pathology Screening Guidelines for the Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer. Am J Clin Pathol 2012; 137 (4): 516–542. doi: 10.1309/AJCPTGD94EVRSJCG.

14. Verdoodt F, Jentschke M, Hillemanns P et al. Reaching women who do not participate in cervical cancer screening by offering self-sampling kits. Eur J Cancer 2015; 51 (16): 2375–2385. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2015.07.006.

15. Sehnal B, Vojáčková N, Driak D et al. Předpokládaná účinnost HPV vakcinace v profylaxi nongenitálních karcinomů. Klin Onkol 2014; 27 (4): 239–246.

16. World Health Organization. WHO guideline for screening and treatment of cervical pre-cancer lesions for cervical cancer prevention: use of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA genotyping. Geneva: WHO 2021. [online]. Available from: https: //www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240121744.

17. Nadace pro výzkum rakoviny Česká republika. Samoodberový HPV test. [online]. Dostupné z: https: //www.vyzkumrakoviny.cz/samoodberovy-hpv-test/.

18. Cabrnochová H, Dušek L. Analýza dat proočkovanosti proti lidskému papilomaviru u dětí v České republice. Vakcinologie 2025; 19 (2): 73–80.

Labels
Paediatric clinical oncology Surgery Clinical oncology

Article was published in

Clinical Oncology

Issue 4

2026 Issue 4

Most read in this issue
Login
Forgotten password

Enter the email address that you registered with. We will send you instructions on how to set a new password.

Login

Don‘t have an account?  Create new account

#ADS_BOTTOM_SCRIPTS#