HPV vaccines: State of the art

Cervical cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women worldwide and is frequent in relatively young women. In the last decades, its incidence has decreased following the implementation of screening programs, mainly in developed countries. Cervical screening programs, while successful if properly carried out, are difficult and expensive to implement, especially in developing countries. Advances in the understanding of the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the etiology of high-grade cervical lesions and cervical cancer have led to the development and evaluation of two prophylactic HPV vaccines. Vaccination against the HPV, which is the major cause of cervical cancer, is a significant step forward. This review article provides a summary of the most recent studies related with the development and efficacy of the two HPV vaccines.