How does HPV cause cervical cancer?

Human Papillomavirus = HPV.

please list websites if possible.

The virus is constantly attacking the cervical tissue causing irritation...thus cancer.

What is the association between HPV infection and cancer?
Persistent HPV infections are now recognized as the major cause of cervical cancer. In 2007, it was estimated that 11,000 women in the United States would be diagnosed with this type of cancer and nearly 4,000 would die from it. Cervical cancer strikes nearly half a million women each year worldwide, claiming a quarter of a million lives. Studies also suggest that HPVs may play a role in some cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, and penile cancer (cancer of the penis) (2).

Studies have also found that oral HPV infection is a strong risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer (cancer that forms in tissues of the oropharynx, which is the middle part of the throat and includes the soft palate, the base of the tongue, and the tonsils) (2, 3). Researchers found that an oral HPV infection and past HPV exposure increase the risk of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer, regardless of tobacco and alcohol use, two other important risk factors for this disease. However, combining HPV exposure and heavy tobacco and alcohol use did not have an additive effect (3).

Some types of HPV are referred to as 鈥渓ow-risk鈥?viruses because they rarely cause lesions that develop into cancer. HPV types that are more likely to lead to the development of cancer are referred to as 鈥渉igh-risk.鈥?Both high-risk and low-risk types of HPV can cause the growth of abnormal cells, but only the high-risk types of HPV lead to cancer. Sexually transmitted, high-risk HPVs include types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, and 73 (4). These high-risk types of HPV cause growths on the cervix that are usually flat and nearly invisible, as compared with the external warts caused by low-risk types HPV鈥? and HPV鈥?1. HPV types 16 and 18 together cause about 70 percent of cervical cancers (4, 5). It is important to note, however, that the great majority of high-risk HPV infections go away on their own and do not cause cancer (5).

Human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, is the most common cause of cervical cancer. When a woman is exposed to HPV, her immune system usually prevents the virus from doing any harm.

But in a small number of women, the virus survives for years and eventually converts some cells on the surface of the cervix into cancer cells. These changes happen very slowly.

At first, the cells only show signs of a viral infection. Later, the cells become precancerous. Doctors refer to this as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. In time, it progresses to invasive cervical cancer.

It's not clear why some women are more likely to develop cervical cancer. Some types of HPV are more aggressive than others and that plays a role. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of both precancerous changes and cancer of the cervix. The best way to prevent sexually transmitted infections is to have fewer sexual partners and to always use condoms.

The HPV vaccine (Gardisil), which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in June 2006, is another way to protect against HPV infection. The vaccine protects against the main types of HPV that cause cervical cancer. Although the vaccine is most effective if given to girls before they become sexually active, the vaccine may also benefit women who are already infected with one or more types HPV by protecting them against the HPV types they don't have.
www.mayoclinic.com/health/cervical-can...

These two website explain how a persistent progressive high risk HPV types can progress to cervical cancer.

The Natural history of HPV
http://www.merckmedicus.com/pp/us/hcp/di...

HPV and Cervical cancer
http://cmr.asm.org/cgi/content/full/16/1...

HPV and oral cancer
http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/hpv/...

I wish you well.

First I'm not a doctor or specialist in cellular growth. The HPV virus is responsible for genital warts. It seems possible that the growth of irregular cells, warts, could lead to cancer. Anything and everything leads to cancer somehow these days. There is a very good site at WEBmd.com that will answer your question properly. Happy trails...

It infects the cervix, I dont know a ton about this , but go to google or ask and I am sure you could find some good websites that could help you,

Best of Luck, I hope noone close to you has anything,, good luck