Evaluation of Persistent Infection by Oncogenic Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Patients Treated for Cervical Carcinoma and Its Relation to Prognostic Factors

Cervical cancer is strongly associated with HPV infection, yet current post-treatment follow-up relies on cytology and imaging, which have limited accuracy, particularly after radiotherapy. Emerging evidence suggests that HPV clearance is linked to better outcomes and that HPV testing may outperform cytology in detecting recurrence. This study aims to evaluate a panel of prognostic biomarkers to identify patients at higher risk of recurrence. These include cervical and circulating HPV-DNA (presence, genotype, and load), vaginal microbiota, host DNA methylation, SOD2 expression, and immune profile. By enabling earlier and more accurate detection of recurrence, these biomarkers may improve patient outcomes, reduce reliance on costly imaging, and support earlier discharge for low-risk patients.