[Anti-HPV vaccination: preventing cervical cancer].

Two anti-HPV vaccine will soon be registered on the Belgian market. Providing immunity against the L1 protein of several oncogenic types of Papilloma virus, they aim at protecting against cervical cancer and several precancerous lesions. It has been known for years that oncogenic HPV infection of the uterine cervix is a prerequisite to the development of cervical cancer. This is supported by epidemiological has well as biological observations. That is why vaccines against capsid protein of these viruses had been developed. Two of these vaccines are about to be registered in Belgium. Cervarix (GSK) is directed against HPV 16 and 18 which are associated to ca 70% of the cervical cancers in the world. Gardasil (Sanofi Pasteur MSD) propose a vaccination against L1 protein of HPV 16 and 18, but also against HPV 6 and 11 which are responsible of benign lesions of the ano genital area (condylomas). The results obtained so far are very promising considering their preventive efficacy on persistant infections and cervical dysplasias. Two recent publications must be discussed: first, the protection offered by Cervarix is maintained for 4.5 years at least, second, vaccination by Gardasil of patients already infected by one of the HPV types (16, 18, 6, 11) provides a 100% efficacy in preventing diseases caused by the remaining types. It is therefore probable that HPV vaccination will not only concerns naive patients from any contact with HPV but also patients having already be in contact with these viruses.