This ninetieth volume of the IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of
Carcinogenic Risks to Humans considers human papillomaviruses (HPVs)
which were evaluated by a previous Working Group (IARC, 1995). The
monograph in the present volume incorporates new data that have become
available during the past decade.
HPVs represent the most common infectious agents that are transmitted
sexually throughout the world; the major risk factors are behaviors
associated with sexual activity. Although most infections are
asymptomatic and are cleared within a period of 2 years, genital HPV
infection can lead to clinical disease, including anogenital warts,
cervical neoplasia, cervical cancer and other anogenital cancers. The
risk for persistence of infection and progression of the more than 40
genital HPV types to grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN3)
and cancer differs widely. Persistent infection with carcinogenic HPVs
occurs in virtually all cases of cervical cancer.