HPV Vaccine Post-Surgery Cuts Viral Persistence

Medscape

05-05-2025

The administration of the human papillomavirus nonavalent (9vHPV) vaccine after a surgical treatment for low- and high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia resulted in a significant reduction in the proportion of women positive for HPV over the 15-month study period.
METHODOLOGY:
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to examine the effectiveness of the 9vHPV vaccine after surgical treatment in women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
They included 326 women (mean age, 40.7 years) who underwent carbon dioxide laser ablation for low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN1) or the loop electrosurgical excision procedure for high-grade lesions (CIN2-3) between 2020 and 2024 at a centre in Italy.
Participants were divided into two groups: Vaccinated (n = 222) and unvaccinated (n = 104) groups; the vaccinated group received the 9vHPV vaccine either before surgery or within 30 days post-surgery.
Patients were followed up at 6 and 15 months post-treatment; HPV test results and colposcopy findings were analysed to determine the effect of vaccination on viral clearance.
TAKEAWAY:
During the 6-month follow-up period, HPV positivity rates were significantly lower for patients with CIN1 in the vaccinated group than for those in the unvaccinated group (18% vs 38%; P = .0169). The findings were consistent at the 15-month follow-up.
= .0169). The findings were consistent at the 15-month follow-up. During the 15-month follow-up period, HPV positivity rates were significantly lower for patients with CIN2-3 in the vaccinated group than for those in the unvaccinated group (8% vs 18%; P = .0353).
= .0353). Vaccination showed a significant effect in reducing HPV positivity among women aged 40 years or older with CIN1 ( P = .0100).
= .0100). At the end of the follow-up, post-treatment colposcopy findings were comparable between the groups, regardless of vaccination status.
IN PRACTICE:
"A comprehensive approach to cervical cancer prevention — including primary prevention (prophylactic vaccination), secondary prevention (cervical screening), and tertiary prevention (therapeutic interventions and post-treatment vaccination) — could play a crucial role in accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer worldwide," the authors wrote.
SOURCE:
This study was led by Mario Palumbo, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II," Naples, Italy. It was published online on April 19, 2025, in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology .
LIMITATIONS:
This study was limited by its retrospective observational study design.
DISCLOSURES:
This study did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest or personal relationships that could have influenced the study.