The Past, Present, and Future of Cervical Cancer Vaccines

Since the introduction of prophylactic HPV vaccines, both HPV infection rates and cervical cancer rates have subsequently dropped. Yet, cervical cancer remains the fourth most common cancer diagnosis in women globally. As HPV and its role in the development of cervical cancer become better understood, vaccines have emerged as a front runner for improved therapeutic cervical cancer treatment. Recent studies have shown that protein and DNA vaccines may be effectively delivered via the use of several different vectors, while combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors provides even more effective treatment. Further investigation and additional clinical studies into specific vaccine strategies are necessary to determine how effective vaccines are as therapeutic treatment for cervical cancer. This review intends to summarize some of the most promising research on cervical cancer vaccines. Such a study may be helpful for gynecologists to prevent and manage patients with HPV infection.