In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Dr. Andreina Fernandes to discuss HPV-independent Cervical Cancers. Dr. Fernandes is a Molecular Biologist, Doctor of Science, and author of “Human papillomavirus-independent cervical cancer,” the Lead Article for the January 2022 issue of IJGC. Dr. Fernandes is a Researcher of the Molecular Genetics Laboratory at the Institute of Oncology and Hematology, and Professor of the Faculty of Dentistry, at Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas, Venezuela.

(https://ijgc.bmj.com/content/early/2021/12/08/ijgc-2021-003014)

Highlights:

-The percentage of HPV-independent tumors is very variable, around 5 and 10%.

-HPV-independent tumors are characterized by a differentiated molecular profile with lower proliferative activity, a p53 immunostaining, and alterations in PTEN, p53, KRAS, CTNNB1, ARID1A and ARID5B.

-Most HPV-independent tumors are adenocarcinomas, however, there have been reports of HPV-independent cases with squamous histology.

-HPV-independent tumors are associated with early lymph node involvement, accelerated tumor growth, distant metastasis, and a more aggressive biological behavior, related to a worse disease free survival and overall survival.

-The hit and run mechanism could explain the absence of the viral genome in the HPV-independent cervical cancer cases.