Cayleigh de Sousa

1 Introduction Cervical cancer continues to be a serious public health threat among women worldwide [1], with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections being central to cervical malignancy. Recurring high-risk HPV infections account for 90% of all diagnosed cases [2], and although persisting HPV infections are necessary for cervical tumourigenesis, they are insufficient when acting alone.

1 Introduction Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide [1], with a disproportionate impact on low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs) like South Africa [2]. It is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in Sub-Saharan Africa, primarily due to the high prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, particularly oncogenic subtypes HPV-16 and HPV-18 [3].