A meta-analysis of 11 studies has shown that administering a prophylactic HPV vaccine shortly before or immediately after surgical treatment of moderate to high-grade cervical dysplasia (CIN 2+) significantly reduces the risk of recurrence1.
The likely mechanisms explaining the beneficial effect of prophylactic HPV vaccination in women already infected with the virus include:
- stimulation of the cellular immune response, which may play an important role in preventing HPV recurrence2,
- increased vaccine efficacy due to reduction of local inflammatory response following surgical treatment of HPV-related cervical lesions3,4,
- development of cross-protection against other HPV types,5,6.
References
1 Di Donato V, Caruso G, Bogani G, Cavallari EN, Palaia G, Perniola G, Ralli M, Sorrenti S, Romeo U, Pernazza A, Pierangeli A, Clementi I, Mingoli A, Cassoni A, Tanzi F, Cuccu I, Recine N, Mancino P, de Vincentiis M, Valentini V, d’Ettorre G, Della Rocca C, Mastroianni CM, Antonelli G, Polimeni A, Muzii L, Palaia I. HPV Vaccination after Primary Treatment of HPV-Related Disease across Different Organ Sites: A Multidisciplinary Comprehensive Review and Meta-Analysis. Vaccines (Basel). 2022 Feb 4;10(2):239. doi: 10.3390/vaccines10020239. PMID: 35214697; PMCID: PMC8879645.
2 Zurek Munk-Madsen, M., Toft, L., Kube, T., Richter, R., Ostergaard, L., Søgaard, O. S., … Kaufmann, A. M. (2017). Cellular immunogenicity of human papillomavirus vaccines Cervarix and Gardasil in adults with HIV infection. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 14(4), 909–916. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2017.1407896
3 Saftlas AF, Spracklen CN, Ryckman KK, Stockdale CK, Penrose K, Ault K, Rubenstein LM, Pinto LA. Influence of a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) on levels of cytokines in cervical secretions. J Reprod Immunol. 2015 Jun;109:74-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jri.2015.01.002. Epub 2015 Jan 30. PMID: 25721621.
4 Frazer IH. Interaction of human papillomaviruses with the host immune system: a well evolved relationship. Virology. 2009 Feb 20;384(2):410-4. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2008.10.004. Epub 2008 Nov 4. PMID: 18986661.
5 Ault KA. Human papillomavirus vaccines and the potential for cross-protection between related HPV types. Gynecol Oncol. 2007 Nov;107(2 Suppl 1):S31-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2007.08.059. PMID: 18499916.
6 De Vincenzo R, Ricci C, Conte C, Scambia G. HPV vaccine cross-protection: Highlights on additional clinical benefit. Gynecol Oncol. 2013 Sep;130(3):642-51. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2013.05.033. Epub 2013 Jun 5. PMID: 23747835.
