Title:Cervical Cancer: A Review of Epidemiology, Treatments and Anticancer
Drugs
Volume: 19
Issue: 3
Author(s): Elmira Babakanrad, Taher Mohammadian*, Davoud Esmaeili*Payam Behzadi
Affiliation:
- Department of Microbiology, Shahr-e-Qods Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Microbiology and Applied Virology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Keywords:
HPV, anti-cancer, cervical cancer, LEEP, apoptosis, epidemiology.
Abstract:
Background: Cancer is the second leading cause of death among men and women and a
highly prevalent cause of mortality among women. Having sexual relations at a young age, having
multiple sex partners, multiple pregnancies, long-term use of birth control pills, receiving a kidney
transplant, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are the major risk factors of cervical cancer.
Although the risk of cervical cancer has recently increased, its mortality rate has declined. This study
aimed to review cervical cancer, its epidemiology, etiology, treatment methods, and various chemical
plant- and microorganism-derived drugs.
Material and Methods: Complete information collection was performed by reading most of the
available articles.
Results: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the main cause of cervical cancer, and the best
way to prevent it is vaccination between the ages of 9 and 11 years, screening women and, more importantly,
educating girls. One of the easiest methods to screen for this disease is Pap tests and HPV
genotyping (high-risk strains 16 and 18). Cervical cancer is asymptomatic in the early stages, but
after spreading to other parts of the body, it causes symptoms, such as bleeding, pelvic pain, and
dyspareunia. Cervical cancer treatment is based on the stage of the disease and the involvement of
other parts of the body. In general, however, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hysterectomy
are among the common treatments for cervical cancer. Each of these methods has its side effects; for
instance, chemotherapy destroys healthy as well as cancer cells.
Conclusion: Nowadays, with molecular knowledge, new drugs have been developed that are free
from the side effects of cancer treatment methods and only affect cancer cells. All the results have
been reviewed and compiled.