Cervical cancer ranks third among malignant diseases of the female reproductive system and progressively develops through a series of pathological changes known as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Despite being extremely aggressive and causing increased mortality, the main treatment options include surgery or a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, often based on cisplatin-based chemotherapy and external beam radiotherapy or brachytherapy. Cervical dysplasia is an abnormal growth of cells on the surface of the cervix that could lead to cervical cancer. CIN most commonly occurs at the squamocolumnar junction of the cervix, a transitional zone between the squamous epithelium of the vagina and the columnar epithelium of the endocervix. The primary cause of CIN is chronic infection of the cervix with Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Oxidative stress (OS) and chronic inflammation are associated with HPV-induced cervical dysplasia. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) facilitate the progression of CIN through DNA damage, immune evasion, and cellular mutations. Thus, the inflammatory environment, characterized by increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines, contributes to epithelial transformation. Given these mechanisms, antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, D, E, polyphenols, and carotenoids, are being investigated for their potential as adjunctive therapies in CIN management. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the influence of oxidative stress, antioxidants, and inflammation on cervical cancer.

Background: Cervical cancer remains a major global health challenge, ranking fourth among malignancies in women, with an estimated 660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths in 2022. Despite advances in vaccination and screening, incidence and mortality remain disproportionately high in low- and middle-income countries. The disease is strongly linked to persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types, predominantly HPV 16 and 18, whose E6 and E7 oncoproteins drive cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and invasive cancer. This review summarizes current evidence on clinically relevant biomarkers in HPV-associated CIN and cervical cancer, emphasizing their role in screening, risk stratification, and disease management. Methods: We analyzed the recent literature focusing on validated and emerging biomarkers with potential clinical applications in HPV-related cervical disease. Results: Biomarkers are essential tools for improving early detection, assessment of progression risk, and personalized management. Established markers such as p16 immunostaining, p16/Ki-67 dual staining, and HPV E6/E7 mRNA assays increase diagnostic accuracy and reduce overtreatment. Prognostic indicators, including squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) and telomerase activity, provide information on tumor burden and recurrence risk. Novel approaches—such as DNA methylation panels, HPV viral load quantification, ncRNAs, and cervico-vaginal microbiota profiling—show promise in refining risk assessment and supporting non-invasive follow-up strategies. Conclusions: The integration of validated biomarkers into clinical practice facilitates more effective triage, individualized treatment decisions, and optimal use of healthcare resources. Emerging biomarkers, once validated, could further improve precision in predicting lesion outcomes, ultimately reducing the global burden of cervical cancer and improving survival.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is a multifactorial pathology mainly determined by persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes and modulated by both immunological and psychological factors. This mixed bibliometric and empirical study integrates psychoneuroimmunological concepts with clinical data from a cohort of 150 patients (aged 18–55 years) from northern Romania. Seventy percent tested positive for high-risk HPV by self-sampling and all completed the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales that were subsequently assessed. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were prevalent, with anxiety being reported by 43% of participants who performed self-sampling at home.Fifty women with cytologically diagnosed HSIL underwent a comparative evaluation using both, classical colposcopy and the artificial intelligence-assisted EVA system (MobileODT, Israel). Artificial intelligence-based colposcopy demonstrated higher sensitivity (92% versus 82%) and higher diagnostic concordance (88%) with histopathological confirmation, suggesting superior accuracy and clinical feasibility.These results support the integration of psychoneuroimmunological and artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostic parameters into cervical cancer prevention frameworks, highlighting the importance through which artificial intelligence could complement neoplasia prevention, addressing psychological profile and biological markers to improve personalised risk stratification.

Background: In this study, we evaluated the effects of the nonavalent Gardasil^® vaccine in a heterogeneous cohort of women who underwent conization or LLETZ for various degrees of CIN, aiming to assess the adjuvant effect of vaccination on HPV clearance. Methods: We conducted a three-year prospective study with a two-year follow-up of 219 patients presenting to our facility for cervical dysplasia. All patients underwent HPV genotyping and were divided into HPV-vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups. Results: We detected a significant association between the final outcome and vaccination timing (p-value = 0.005). All women vaccinated before conization achieved viral clearance; 94.9% of those vaccinated at the time of conization/LLETZ and 68.6% of those vaccinated after the excisional procedure became HPV-negative. Logistic regression showed that, with increasing age, the likelihood of healing after vaccination decreased by approximately 9% per additional year, and non-16/18 HPV-positive women had a 5.5-fold higher chance of healing after vaccination compared with those HPV-positive for 16 and 18 genotypes. Conclusions: Adjuvant prophylactic HPV vaccination in the context of surgical treatment for cervical precancerous lesions is significantly associated with a reduced risk of lesion recurrence and HPV persistence/reinfection when administered prior to or at the same time as the excisional procedures.

Oral squamous-cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common form of oral cancer, accounting for over 90% of malignancies in the oral cavity. Its pathogenesis is driven by a complex interplay of genetic alterations, transcriptomic dysregulation, epigenetic modifications, environmental exposures, and tumor microenvironment dynamics. Despite advances in therapy, OSCC remains associated with poor survival due to late diagnosis, therapeutic resistance, and tumor heterogeneity. This narrative review explores genetic determinants and molecular mechanisms underlying OSCC, focusing on recurrent mutations, deregulated pathways, epigenetic control, gene expression changes, insights from cell models, and potential biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy. We integrate findings from the recent literature to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research and emerging trends in OSCC genetics.

Background: Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) represents a precancerous condition whose effective management is crucial for preventing invasive cervical cancer, a disease that remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. The long pre-invasive phase of cervical carcinogenesis and the availability of effective screening and treatment procedures make CIN a largely preventable and curable entity. Objectives: This review aimed to analyze therapeutic options applied in CIN, correlating interventions with lesion grade and guideline recommendations, in order to outline a management model adapted to the Romanian clinical setting. Materials and Methods: A structured narrative review of 20 published articles addressing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 1–3) published between 2021 and 2023 was performed. Relevant studies were identified through a targeted literature search and analyzed descriptively. This study synthesized data from the recent literature and international clinical guidelines to identify management trends and context-specific adaptations. Results: Extracted variables included lesion grade, reported therapeutic approach (surveillance, excisional, or ablative treatment), reproductive considerations, and patient compliance, with international guidelines used as reference standards. Across the reviewed studies, excisional procedures (conization and LEEP) were predominantly reported for high-grade neoplasia (CIN 2–3), while low-grade lesions (CIN 1) were managed either conservatively or through close surveillance. Treatment decisions described in the literature were strongly influenced by patient age, fertility preservation needs, and obstetric history. Overall, management approaches reported in Romanian and international studies were broadly aligned with current guideline recommendations, although variations were observed in the expectant management of younger patients. Conclusions: The findings emphasize the importance of individualized management in cervical dysplasia, integrating lesion characteristics with patient-specific factors. While international guidelines provide a robust framework, their adaptation to the Romanian healthcare context should prioritize patient education, compliance, and structured post-treatment follow-up strategies.