This article summarizes current knowledge of the cervical carcinogenesis with a special focus on the molecular mechanisms involving the interaction of cellular tumour suppressors (p53, RB, p73) with viral oncoproteins (E6, E7). The E6-induced degradation of p53 protein results in the inhibition of apoptosis, inability to repair DNA and fixation of mutations. The p53-dependent tumourigenesis is influenced by interaction not only with E6/HPV 16, 18 but also with MDM2, bcl-2 and RB protein. The polymorphism of p53 seems to contribute to malignant transformation of cervix. On contrary, there are experimental data showing that p53 may not be the only factor playing role in malignant transformation in cervical cancer. It has been generally agreed that viral oncoprotein E6 is a critical step in the onset of malignant transformation of cervix. There is a vast number of experimental and clinical studies confirming the validity of E6 induced cervical cancer including alteration of the genotype and phenotypic characteristics of the transforming cells. The modern tools of molecular biology offer an exact diagnosis as well as relevant targets for gene therapy of the cervical cancer.

Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute Brno