Oncogenesis of squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Carcinoma of the uterine cervix is the most frequent neoplasm among women in India, accounting for up to 85% of all female gynecological malignancies. In the United States, it accounts for about 48% of all female tumors and 4% of all cancer deaths of females. Epidemiological evidence suggests involvement of numerous risk factors in the etiology of cervical cancer, including sexual behavior, number of pregnancies, cigarette smoking, and venereal disease. Recent studies, however, tend to emphasize viral involvement in the development of cervical cancer along with concomitant cytogenetic and immunological changes. This review focuses on the roles of human papillomavirus infection, chromosomal abnormalities, and immune function changes in the pathogenesis of cervical carcinoma.