Novel Trial Summary
Novel Trial Summary
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a common virus and most people who are sexually active will come into contact with it, but only a few subtypes have been found to be directly associated with cervical cancer. Vaccines are highly effective in preventing HPV infection in women, and there is a national HPV vaccination programme in the UK available to all girls and more recently boys yet to reach puberty. However, vaccines are not effective against already established infections.
High grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), also known as high grade precancer, is caused by persistent HPV infection. The standard local treatment is a procedure where diathermy, scalpel, or laser surgery is used to remove a cone-shaped area of the cervix containing the abnormal cells.
The women who develop high-grade CIN are seen as being sensitive to HPV infection after treatment and can become rapidly re-infected. This group remain at high risk for cervical precancer, cervical cancer and other cancers related to HPV e.g. vaginal, vulval, anal. If there is a need for repeat local treatment, this can increase the risk of premature birth in future pregnancies for women of child-bearing age.
This trial aims to explore whether giving an HPV vaccine to women receiving local treatment for high grade precancer may reduce the rates of re-infection and development of precancer, and ultimately limit the number of cervical cancer cases as a result.
