Molecular Mechanisms of Cervical Cancer Induced by the Human Papillomavirus: Recent Proposals for Early Detection and Treatment

Background: Cervical cancer is considered an important public health problem, and the main risk factor for this type of tumor is human papillomavirus infection. However, the search for new proposals for disease control and prevention has brought new findings and approaches in the context of molecular biology indicating innovations and perspectives in the early detection of the disease. Thus, this study aimed to identify studies that explore events and molecular mechanisms in cervical tissues and cells and to address the main methods used, bringing new perspectives and proposals for the early detection of cervical cancer.

Methods: This is a bibliographical review of articles published between 2014 and 2017. Medline, Scielo, Web Science and PubMed databases were used. Publication period. The cell cycle theme, gene expression, protein action, precursor lesions, cervical cancer and human papillomavirus, and the suggestion of molecular markers for treatment and / or diagnosis were highlighted as inclusion criteria.

Results: There were 63 publications found, of which 58 were in the English language. Of this total, 38 corresponded to the inclusion criteria and the proposed objectives, being selected the 16 main articles. It was concluded that most of the studies have brought about molecular mechanisms, highlighting the process of carcinogenesis between the initial phase, with the precursor lesions until invasive cervical cancer.

Conclusions: In this review, the highlight was the study on chromosome aberration found in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and important markers for prognosis and early detection of cervical cancer, which contributes to the reduction of morbidity and mortality from this type of cancer in the female population.