Sanaz Aghajani
1 
, Seyed Ali Maboudi
2, Nasim Vousooghi
1,3, Iman Seyhoun
1,4, Masoumeh Majidizolbin
5, Alireza Namazi Shabestari
6, Arvin Namazi Shabestari
7, Javad Verdi
1* 1 Department of Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Nanotechnology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
3 Research Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Gene, Cell & Tissue Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5 Iranian Tissue Bank and Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
6 Department of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
7 College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Cervical cancer remains one of the most prevalent malignancies affecting women worldwide, with a particularly heavy burden in low- and middle-income countries. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types — most notably HPV-16 and HPV-18 — is firmly established as the primary etiological driver of this disease. This review takes a bench-to-bedside approach, examining the molecular and pathophysiological underpinnings of cervical carcinogenesis alongside the epidemiology, screening strategies, diagnostic tools, and the current treatment landscape. Special attention is given to recent progress in immunotherapy, targeted treatments, and prophylactic vaccines, as well as the growing body of research on exosome-based diagnostics and cell-based therapies. We also address persistent challenges that complicate global disease management — from inadequate access to vaccination in resource-limited settings to the emergence of therapeutic resistance. By bringing together insights from basic and clinical research, this article aims to bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and patient care in the ongoing fight against cervical cancer.