Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The immune system plays an important role in the protection against HPV and failure of the immune system can lead to the development of... Show moreCervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The immune system plays an important role in the protection against HPV and failure of the immune system can lead to the development of cervical cancer. Immunotherapy aims at the restoration of an effective anti-tumour immunity. This thesis has led to new insights into the role of the immune system in HPV induced disease and forms a vital contribution to our understanding of tumor inducted immunesuppresion in patients with (pre-) cancerous lesions of the cervix. Furthermore it describes two clinical trails in which patients with pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix are vaccinated with an HPV16 E6/E7 synthetic overlapping long-peptide vaccine (HPV16-SLP). Multiple mechanisms restrain the host__s immune system to rise to the challenge of combating the tumour and favourable immune profiles need boosting in order to keep the balance in favour of tumour eradication. Future therapy should combine various synergistic approaches, and old and new therapies should be used side by side in order to enhance vaccination efficacy and counteract tumour suppression. Show less
