Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is a slow-developing cancer that starts in the cells of the cervix. Most cervical cancers arise in the squamocolumnar junction between the endocervix and ectocervix.¹ Some early symptoms of cervical cancer may include pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding after sex or between menstrual cycles. Once the cancer has spread from the cervix to other parts of the body, symptoms such as abdominal pain, painful urination, or painful bowel movements may occur.²

The majority of cervical cancers are caused by long-term infections with high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV), primarily HPV 16 and HPV 18.³ Women with high-risk HPV infections are more likely to develop cervical cancer if they are immunocompromised or are taking immunosuppressants. Other risk factors for cervical cancer include smoking, obesity, the use of oral contraceptives, and giving birth to many children.⁴ Pap tests can detect the precancerous lesions caused by HPV,⁵ but more early detection methods for cervical cancer are needed.

There are a number of options to treat cervical cancer, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.⁶ HPV vaccination is recommended for people in certain age groups to prevent the acquisition of HPV.⁷

Early detection is crucial for treating cervical cancer, but the screening rates for this condition are notably lower in certain populations. The PRESTIS trial, a randomized clinical trial that was funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), explored whether self-collection kits could boost participation in cervical cancer screening among people who were not being screened regularly. The researchers reported that while only 17.4% of study participants who received a phone call about the importance of screening completed the screening process at a clinic, participation went up significantly among those who received an at-home self-collection kit in the mail (41.1%) and those who received both the kit and a follow-up call (46.6%).⁸

In 2006, NCI and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) teamed up to launch The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Program. TCGA characterized the genetic material of more than 30 types of cancer,⁹ including the two main types of cervical cancer (squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma). Researchers used the results of this study to identify drugs that could potentially treat this condition.¹⁰ In addition, researchers found that some cervical cancer tumors did not show signs of HPV infection, indicating that some cases of cervical cancer may arise from genetic factors or other causes.¹¹