Potential therapeutic vaccine strategies and relevance of the immune system in uterine cervical cancer.

The interaction of HPV with the immune system has been studied, but the results are still inconclusive for several reasons. Until now, we have not been able to understand the mechanisms of immune system regulation in the uterine cervix. HPV infection does not unleash an inflammatory response, and consequently an efficient and specific immune response against the virus. Moreover, an understanding of HPV infection and local immune response is indispensable for the development of new bioactive drugs and therapies for patients with both non invasive and invasive tumors, mainly for patients that do not present regression with radiotherapy or chemotherapy or in whom the tumors are surgically unresectable. The aim of this review is to provide support in understanding potential mechanisms used by the immune system to destroy neoplastic cells, comparing the immunotherapy used in cancer and discussing the possibility of developing new drugs based on these mechanisms of action.