Immune response and immunotherapy in intraepithelial and invasive lesions of the uterine cervix.

Infection with the human papillomavirus virus (HPV) induces innate and acquired immune responses in the cervical stroma, which are a delicate, balanced and generally unpredictable immunological defense. Because of the immunological breaks that the HPV virus causes, eradication of infected cells does not occur, potentially leading to development of intraepithelial and invasive lesions. Advances in our understanding of the immune system and in the definition of antigens in tumor cells has led to many new treatment strategies. As a result, immunotherapy has the potential to be the most specific treatment for tumors, and one that requires elaboration. Recently, immunotherapy with interferon and dendritc cells has been used on intrapepithelial and invasive cervical lesions with promising results.