Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Cervical Cancer: An Exploratory Systematic Review of Heterogeneous Evidence on Epidemiology, Vaccination, Screening, and Molecular Advances

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This systematic review evaluated evidence on HPV epidemiology, vaccination, screening, and factors associated with cervical cancer and other HPV-related malignancies. Fourteen heterogeneous studies published between 2010 and 2025 were included. HPV16 remained the most frequently reported genotype, while several studies indicated increasing prevalence of other high-risk genotypes, supporting the potential value of the 9-valent HPV vaccine. Population-based evidence demonstrated reduced cervical cancer incidence among women vaccinated before adolescence. Limited studies also investigated HPV persistence, viral load, microbiome alterations, and vaccine awareness. Considering the small number and diversity of studies, findings should be interpreted cautiously and considered exploratory.