Question

In carcinoma cervix, the causative etiological factor is

• A. Condyloma acuminata
• B. HPV 16,18
• C. HPV 6,11
• D. HSV 1 and 2

Hint:

Separate the wart causing HPV types from the cancer causing ones.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question wants the actual cause of cervical cancer, not just something that is linked to the genital area in general.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Cervical cancer is now understood as an infection driven disease. Persistent infection with high risk (oncogenic) strains of the human papillomavirus is the accepted cause in almost all cases.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Condyloma acuminata are genital warts, and while they are also caused by HPV, they are a benign growth, not the cancer causing lesion itself.
HPV types 6 and 11 are called low risk types. They are the strains responsible for genital warts, and they rarely, if ever, progress to cancer.
HPV types 16 and 18 are called high risk or oncogenic types. Their viral proteins interfere with the cell's own tumor suppressor genes, allowing infected cervical cells to grow out of control over time, which is how cervical cancer develops.
Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 were once suspected as possible cofactors in older studies, but modern evidence has firmly placed high risk HPV, not HSV, as the true cause.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The causative agent of carcinoma cervix is high risk HPV, types 16 and 18, option (B).