70% of cervical cancer cases are caused by Human papillomavirus and a new vaccine has been recently developed for Types 6, 11, 16, and 18. In Australia (2006) approval was given to add this vaccination to the Australian vaccination program. In a recent study published in PNAS of a mouse model of HPV-associated cancer, the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) was also required for cancer development and the blocking with estrogen receptor antagonists were effective in treating and/or preventing cervical cancer in these mice.
Prevention and treatment of cervical cancer in mice using estrogen receptor antagonists. Chung SH, Lambert PF. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Nov 9. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 19901334
“These data are consistent with the observation in women that long-term use of oral contraceptives or multiple pregnancies significantly increases the risk for cervical cancer in HPV-positive women. In the present study, we examined whether drugs that interfere with the function of ERalpha are effective in treating and/or preventing cervical cancer in mice. We provide evidence that a complete ER antagonist, ICI 182,780 (ICI), as well as a selective ER modulator, raloxifene, efficiently clear cancer and its precursor lesions in both the cervix and the vagina.”
(More? UNSW Embryology – Womens Health Issues | Medline Plus)













