Papillomavirus-independent squamous cell cervical cancer

Over 500,000 new cervical cancer (CC) cases are recorded annually around the world, and more than 300,000 women die from this disease. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common CC form. Human papilloma viruses (HPV) of certain types are recognized etiological agents of CC. The viewpoint that all CC cases are HPV-positive was very popular among researches until recently. Chiefly it was based on technical problems with detection of “genuine” HPV-negative CC. Due to multiplicity and heterogeneity of the HPV group it seemed reasonable to explain the fact that less than 100 % of HPV-positive samples were registered in a certain study by detection system inadequacy, in other words that a false-negative result was the case. As HPV DNA detection methods had been improved the existence of HPV-independent CC was officially recognized by the World Health Organization in 2020. These carcinomas are rather rare, difficult to diagnose, thus detected at advanced stages; there are some communications on a more severe clinical course of such cases in comparison with HPV-positive ones, they are frequently inoperable. It seems the given CC form will not disappear with the introduction of programs of mass preventive adolescent vaccinations. The review deals with some technical items of HPV-negative squamous CC detection as well as with the known peculiarities of this cancer type.