The Cervical Cancer in Venezuela

Constitutes a serious public health problem in the country because it has an incidence of 27 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and is the leading cause of death from cancer in Venezuelan women, especially in the poorer and less access to information, health education and assistance, such as rural areas. The screening and early detection by Pap smear has been a valuable strategy in preventing the last 50 years. Unfortunately in Latin America and particularly in Venezuela these strategies have not been effective for little organization, consistency, continuity and control research programs, mainly located in urban areas and lack of health information and education in our population. It has been shown that this cancer is infection where certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) cause the development of cervical neoplasia. Molecular biology applied to the diagnosis of HPV detection and typing have allowed the viral genome in cytology and biopsy material from different regions of the country. In recent years there have been two preventive vaccines, not curing the disease. The bivalent vaccine and the first quadrivalent vaccine is effective for HPV 16 and 18 and the second includes also 6 and 11, which are not oncogenic but producing genital warts and papillomas and oropharyngeal. Both vaccines are not composed by viruses but by "particle like" virus and its effectiveness has been demonstrated in multiple countries. Although these vaccines cover 70% of the causative agents have been shown to produce cross-immunity to other viruses, thus covering 90% effective in preventing CIN lesions precursor thereof. In Venezuela are not yet available for these vaccines.