It is now fully established that cervical cancer and its precursor lesions are caused by persistent infection by one or more of the 15 oncogenic types of human papillomaviruses (HPV). The oncogenic virus types are also called the high-risk HPV types. HPV 16 and 18 account for over 70% of cervical cancer cases and the remaining due to other high-risk HPV types. The identification of most common HPV types as etiological risk factors for cervical cancer has also lead to the development of vaccines against specific sets of HPV genotypes as preventive strategy against the disease. Two prophylactic HPV vaccines are now available in the market for prevention of HPV infection and thereby reduce the risk of cervical cancer in women.

The book is an updated account of available scientific knowledge on the efficacy and safety of prophylactic HPV vaccines in the market. The book is divided into eight sections lucidly explaining in question answer format the transmission, risk factors and prevention of HPV infection. It also deals with the etiological role of HPV infection in cervical cancer and provides the information gathered from various clinical trials of these vaccines globally. Prof. Maqsood Siddiqi is the Founder & Chairman of Cancer Foundation of India and Prof. Swati Y. Bhave is the Executive Director, Association of Adolescent and Child Care in India.

The book was released in Kolkata on December 4, 2009 by Prof. Harald zur Hausen, who received Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2008 for the discovery of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

The book provides a detailed account of the history of origin and development of the cancer institute established at Bombay, Calcutta and Madras which laid the foundation of cancer treatment and research in the country. It gives an astonishing insight into the vision, commitment and dedication of extraordinarily accomplished people who initiated cancer related clinical and research facilities in the country, overcoming difficult situations and hurdles, as well as those who ensured steady progress in developing these institutions into one of the finest tertiary care cancer centres in the world (The TMH, Mumbai; CNCI, Kolkata and Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai).

The book is the result of a research grant provided by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi to the author Dr. Sukta Das for undertaking this work. Dr. Das is an active life member of cancer foundation of India which entirely supported the publication of the book.

The book was released in Kolkata on January 2, 2012 by Prof. Amartya Sen, who received Nobel Prize in Economics in 1998.