The etiology of gynecologic cancer

The incidence of endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer has increased in Japan, during the last decade. On the other hand, the incidence of cervical cancer has declined until the middle of the 1990's. However, in recent years it has been increasing slightly. Change of Japanese women's lifestyle may contribute to the increase in gynecologic cancer incidence in Japan. Infection with high-risk oncogenic human papilloma viruses (HPV) play an important role in cervical carcinogenesis. Advances in understanding of the role of HPV in the etiology of cervical cancer have led to the development, evaluation and recommendation of HPV vaccines. Recently environmental factor and genetic factor related carcinogenesis and development have been investigated of gynecologic cancer. This review provides a summary of these studies about the etiology, the treatment and prevention against gynecologic cancer.