Human papillomavirus‐independent cervical cancer and its precursor lesions

Abstract

With the move towards ubiquitous human papillomavirus (HPV) primary screening and increasing coverage with HPV vaccination, the prevalence of HPV‐associated cervical cancers is predicted to decrease. Clinicians must be aware of HPV‐independent adenocarcinomas, which are likely to increase as a proportion of the total diagnosed cervical adenocarcinomas. Advances in histopathology, immunohistochemistry and molecular genetics have increased our understanding of the spectrum of gastric‐type and other rare HPV‐independent adenocarcinomas. Clinical outcome and prognosis of HPV‐independent adenocarcinoma is worse than the HPV‐associated adenocarcinoma. There is a paucity of evidence‐based guidelines tailored to management of HPV‐independent adenocarcinomas.