Combination Therapies for HPV-Associated Malignancies

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated malignancies cause almost all cases of cervical cancer in women, and a significant percentage of head and neck cancer, together totaling almost 5% of the global cancer burden, and representing an important public health issue. The approval and use of two prophylactic HPV vaccines, Gardasil® and Cervarix®, have significantly decreased infections with HPV, but unfortunately, prophylactic vaccination does not treat established infections or malignancies resulting from HPV. Therefore, therapies for HPV-associated malignancies are necessary to improve the quality of life and survival in patients with these diseases. This review will detail new combinations of therapies in clinical development for HPV-associated malignancies.