Cervical cancer prevention in China: a key to cancer control

With two powerful weapons—human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and screening—cervical cancer has become an important preventable cancer success story. In May, 2018, the Director-General of WHO called for action towards the elimination of cervical cancer. 1 WHOWHO Director-General calls for all countries to take action to help end the suffering caused by cervical cancer. http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/call-to-action-elimination-cervical-cancer/en/Date accessed: September 8, 2018 Google Scholar China, however, as one of the top contributors to the global burden of cervical cancer, still has a long way to go before elimination. 2 Bray F Ferlay J Soerjomataram I Siegel RL Torre LA Jemal A Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018; 68: 394-424 Crossref PubMed Scopus (51204) Google Scholar Since the world's first HPV vaccine became available in 2006, the authorities in China finally approved Cervarix (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA, Rixensart, Belgium) in 2016, Gardasil 4 (Merck & Co, Inc, Kenilworth, NJ, USA) in 2017, and Gardasil 9 (Merck & Co, Inc) in 2018 in mainland China. 3 Pan XF Li R Pan A Larson H Human papillomavirus vaccine approval in China: a major step forward but challenges ahead. Lancet Infect Dis. 2016; 16: 1322-1323 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (27) Google Scholar Despite the government's enormous investment in cervical cancer screening since 2009, China's national screening system still needs substantial improvement in health service capacities; optimising screening strategies; prioritising health investment; and engaging a wide range of stakeholders. Hence, for China, the goal of cervical cancer elimination seems tantalisingly within sight yet beyond reach.