Development of the Uterine Cervix and Its Implications for the Pathogenesis of Cervical Cancer

Abstract

Normal development of the uterine cervix has been widely studied and the origin of both the columnar and squamous epithelia, as well as the molecular basis of their differentiation, has been established. The process of early carcinogenesis in the uterine cervix has also been described extensively, in particular with respect to the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, questions remain about the progenitor cell(s) that play(s) a role in normal (embryonic and fetal) development, as well as in the oncogenic processes that take place in the transformation zone of the uterine cervix. This chapter describes the development of the human lower female reproductive tract, in particular the cervical squamo-columnar junction, and its implications for the pathogenesis of cervical cancer.