The Role of HPV Clearance and Cancer Prevention Therapy in Cervical Cancer

#1 Background

In 2020, the global number of cervical cancer cases reached an estimated 604,127, with 341,831 deaths.

Additionally, approximately 300 million people are predicted to be infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) annually.

In Japan, the annual number of cervical cancer cases, including intraepithelial neoplasia, reached 29,136 in 2019, with 6,818 deaths reported in 2021.

If current trends continue, approximately 44 million new cervical cancer cases are expected worldwide over the next 50 years.

Eliminating HPV could significantly contribute to the prevention and treatment of HPV-related diseases, including cervical cancer.

Currently, standard treatments for cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and intraepithelial cancer include conization and simple total hysterectomy.

However, conization carries risks of reduced fertility, miscarriage, and preterm birth, while simple hysterectomy results in the complete loss of fertility.

These issues not only affect patients' quality of life but also represent significant societal challenges in the context of declining birth rates.

Moreover, cancer imposes a heavy burden not only on patients but also on their families and society as a whole.

This is not merely an issue within obstetrics and gynecology but a critical national challenge requiring comprehensive societal engagement.

#2 Objective

The primary goal of our research has been to eliminate human papillomavirus (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer, and prevent infection to contribute to the improvement and prevention of HPV-related conditions such as cervical high-grade dysplasia.

We have continued this research for 37 years with the aim of addressing this critical issue.

In particular, we aim to establish conservative and sustainable treatment and prevention methods that minimize physical burden and impact on fertility as much as possible.

This research is positioned as the culmination of decades of scientific effort, aiming to contribute to next-generation medical care.

However, considering the original purpose of the patent system—to grant temporary exclusive rights in exchange for public disclosure to promote industrial and medical advancement—we feel a deep sense of responsibility for not having fully returned this invention to society or sufficiently contributed to medical progress.

#3 Comments

While HPV infection is the primary cause of cervical cancer, not all individuals infected with HPV will develop cancer.

Carcinogenesis involves multiple factors, and two major approaches (SIR-Method) are considered to prevent disease progression.

The first is the elimination of the causative agent, HPV itself.

In this study, an HPV clearance rate of 84.6% was achieved.

The second approach is to suppress lesion progression and promote recovery even when HPV persists.

In the 15% of cases where HPV remained, 98.7% of abnormal Pap smear results returned to normal.

Thus, the findings suggest that avoiding progression to cervical cancer may be possible through either HPV clearance, suppression of lesion progression, or both.

In this study, we explored an approach based on the SIR-Method (Scrape off and Inflammatory Reaction Method).

It is well known that adequate immune responses are often difficult to induce at HPV-infected sites.

Therefore, we hypothesized that scraping the infected area could induce antigen exposure and local inflammatory reactions—both considered crucial for natural HPV regression—and thereby promote lesion improvement, guiding our research accordingly.

#4 Clinic Information

Postal Code: 156-00052

2-17-1 Kaido, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

Junkaikai Medical Corporation Namihira Ladies Clinic

TEL: 03-5477-0236 FAX: 03-5477-0327

URL: https://ten-namihiralc.com

(1) Indian Patent: No. 510906 (December 24, 2020)

(2) Japanese Patent: No. 6836047 (February 9, 2021)

(3) Chinese Patent: No. CN306393309S (March 19, 2021)

(4) Tokyo Metropolitan Government Subsidy for Foreign Patent Application Fees for SMEs

Decision No. 3Tōchūjichi 542 (October 11, 2021)