Human Papillomavirus-Related Cancers

Cancer is a public health problem occupying the first and second place in number of deaths in developed and developing countries, respectively. Since the last century, the relationship between infection and cancer has been established in animals and more recently in several human cancers. Currently known that 15–20 % of cancers in the world of infectious origin, many of them related to viral infections. The human papillomavirus (HPV) stands out for its association with confirmed cervical cancer and the large volume of evidence that relate to the head and neck cancer. In addition, there is evidence of their relationship with breast cancers, lung and prostate. However, they are still required more detailed research that aim to clarify the possible mechanisms involved in these processes related to carcinogenic HPV.This chapter discusses the main molecular characteristics of HPV and its relationship with cancers using for this the infective models described by recent studies, the mechanisms of tumor progression, forms of diagnosis and therapy.