[Biology of papillomavirus II infections. Their role in the carcinogenesis of the cervix].

The association of human papillomaviruses (HPV), i.e., papillomavirus type 16, with cervical dysplasias and carcinomas is now well established. Additional agents such as sexual behaviour, immunity deficiency, sociodemographic factors, microbiological agents..., are however implicated in the multistage progression from viral infection to cancer. And inactivation of tumor suppressor gene products (p53, p105Rb), oncogene activation (c-myc, c-ras), aneuploidy, karyotypic abnormalities are key events in the tumor progression. Numerous aspects of the biology of human papillomavirus, i.e. natural history, epidemiology, nature and mechanisms of the immune response are under active investigation. Screening strategies of HPV infections (cytology, HPV DNA detection and HPV antibody detection) demonstrated their efficacy in many countries, while prophylaxy and treatment of these infections by vaccines are still under development.