Implementation of HPV vaccination programmes may induce significant changes in the distribution of HPV genotypes detected in cervical (pre-)cancers.

In a multicentre study in France, we investigated the distribution of HPV genotypes using a sensitive molecular technique in 611 histological specimens diagnosed with high-grade lesions (CIN2/3) in a large cohort of women born between 1972 and 1993. Women born after 1983 were potentially vaccinated because of their young age.

High-risk HPV genotypes were detected in 93.4 % of women and 24.4 % had a multiple infections. HPV16/18 genotypes were more frequently associated with CIN3 than with CIN2 lesions (66 % vs. 57 %, p = 0.045). The prevalence of HPV16 and HV18 genotypes did not change according to the year of birth.

Contrary to previous descriptions in countries with a high HPV vaccination coverage, we did not observe difference in the prevalence of HPV16 and HPV18 genotypes in CIN2/3 lesions after the introduction of HPV vaccination in France, in a context of low national vaccination coverage.

NCT04167501

HPV

Cervical cancers

Vaccine-preventable genotypes

© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.