[Natural history of papillomavirus infections]

Abstract

The human papillomavirus (HPV) origin of cervical cancer has been suggested by H. zur Hausen in 1976 and then confirmed by fundamental and epidemiological studies. Indeed, the proportion of invasive cervical cancers found to contain high risk HPV DNA reached more than 95%, the HPV negative women being not risky. The progression of dysplastic lesions is closely linked to the persistence of viral infection. The determinants affecting persistence of HPV infection can be divided into viral factors (types and variants, viral load, viral DNA integration and viral E6/E7 mRNA expression), host-related factors (immune response, genetic susceptibility) and environmental factors (oral contraceptive, smoking, diet).