Cancer-initiating cells as target for prevention of recurring disease etiology: role of these malignant putative progenitor cells in relapse or metastasis of human cervical carcinoma.

Evidence suggests that there is a link between high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and cervical cancer. Studies indicate that persistence of high risk HPVs may determine progression to more severe stages of cervical disease, while the majority of HPV infections are transient and do not seem to be important in cervical carcinogenesis. Earlier studies in different cancers have shown that tumor initiating cells TICs are responsible for tumor formation and progression and interestingly, they are endowed with stem/ progenitor cell properties. In particular, TICs share with stem cells the key feature of self-renewal. The most efficacious therapeutic intervention for cervical cancer is probably vaccination. This review gives an overview on cervical cancer and its potential therapeutic interventions.