[Advances in screening and follow-up of HPV-related cervical cancer]

Despite the availability of effective prevention strategies, cervical cancer (CC) remains a major global public health challenge. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is an essential etiological factor in CC, providing an opportunity for screening and monitoring based on specific virological biomarkers. This review summarizes the current evidence on HPV-associated biomarkers in precancerous cervical lesions and cervical cancer, focusing on their role in screening, risk stratification, and patient follow-up. It outlines the evolution of screening strategies from cytology to primary HR-HPV molecular testing and effective triage approaches. Next-generation sequencing technologies have enabled the detailed characterization of HPV genomic integration and have identified it as a promising diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarker. Additionally, the detection of circulating tumor HPV DNA shows strong potential to refine risk stratification and support non-invasive follow-up strategies. Integrating these advanced tools could lead to more efficient triage, personalized therapeutic decision-making, and optimized post-therapeutic monitoring.