Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer for women worldwide. Almost all cases of cervical cancer are associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. While the use of the Pap smear as a screening tool has helped to decrease the mortality rates, cervical cancer incidence and mortality remain significantly higher in low-income countries. As promising therapeutic options, three immunotherapy vaccines were recently approved by the FDA to prevent HPV infection and since their introduction the number of new cases of cervical cancer has dropped significantly.

With this collection of Nature Communications research in the field, we want to increase awareness of the disease among women, highlighting the importance of a wider vaccine coverage and screening to eradicate cervical cancer worldwide.

Browse the collection >>

Featured image: Sebastian Condrea/Getty