Human papillomaviruses and their role in cervical cancer

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have been linked to a variety of human diseases, most notably cancer of the cervix, a disease responsible for at least 200,000 deaths per year worldwide. Over 100 different types of HPV have been identified and these can be divided into two groups. Low-risk HPV types are the causative agent of benign warts. High-risk HPV types are associated with cancer. This review focuses on the role of high-risk HPV types in cervical tumorigenesis. Recent work has uncovered new cellular partners for many of the HPV early proteins and thrown light on many of the pathways and processes in which these viral proteins intervene. At the same time, structural and biochemical studies are revealing the molecular details of viral protein function. Several of these new avenues of research have the potential to lead to new approaches to the treatment and prevention of cervical cancer.