New ways to prevent and treat cancer of the cervix are being researched. Some of the promising new developments include the following:

HPV vaccines

Vaccines have been developed to prevent infection with some of the HPV types associated with cervical cancer. Currently available vaccines are intended to produce immunity to HPV types 16 and 18, so that women who are exposed to these viruses will not develop infections. Vaccines are also being developed to prevent infection with some of the other HPV types that also cause cancer. Long-term studies are being done to see how well these vaccines will reduce the risk of cervical cancer.

Some experimental vaccines are also being studied for women with established HPV infections, to help their immune systems destroy the virus and cure the infection before a cancer develops. Still other vaccines are meant to help women who already have advanced cervical cancer that has recurred or metastasized. These vaccines attempt to produce an immune reaction to the parts of the virus (E6 and E7 proteins) that make the cervical cancer cells grow abnormally. It is hoped that this immunity will kill the cancer cells or stop them from growing.

Other clinical trials

Many clinical trials are under way to test new chemotherapy drugs, new ways of giving radiation therapy, and new combinations of surgery and radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Last Medical Review: 09/14/2009
Last Revised: 01/19/2010