This Month in Vaginal & Vulvar Cancer Research

Vaginal Cancer

Vaginal cancer is one of the rarest gynecologic cancers, so research on it arrives in small pieces, and every study adds meaningfully to what the community knows. October was a quiet month, with progress concentrated on HPV, the human papillomavirus that causes most vaginal cancers and precancers. A broad review pulled together why lasting HPV infection, and HPV16 in particular, drives cancer risk across the body and how vaccination fits into prevention. Closer to the clinic, a study of women with vaginal precancer confirmed the close link between HPV16 and higher-grade disease and showed that about one in five had their precancer return after treatment, while a second review explained why no cream or gel is yet approved to treat these lesions. Reports on rare vaginal cancers, including melanoma, sarcoma, and clear cell carcinoma, rounded out a month centered on prevention and early detection.

The papers highlighted here represent a selection of those published during the month. The papers were selected and summarized by AI. Accuracy of the summaries was confirmed by a scientist. This digest incorporates only open-access research articles that are free to be read by the entire community and that are explicitly licensed to be shared and reused.

HPV vaccination and knowing your HPV type are central to preventing vaginal cancer

Most vaginal cancers are caused by HPV, so preventing and tracking HPV infection is one of the most important ways to lower risk across the whole community.

• Where HPV lingers, and which type it is, shapes cancer risk at every site, including the vagina and vulva. In a narrative review, an international team led by researchers at Birjand University of Medical Sciences in Iran and Kookmin University in South Korea found that most HPV infections clear on their own, but persistent infection, especially with HPV16, is a key driver of high-grade lesions and cancer. Vaccination was linked to fewer high-grade lesions and invasive cancers in population studies, although the evidence for vaginal and vulvar cancer is smaller than for cervical cancer and needs to be interpreted site by site. (Read the full paper)

Check the citations section for a comprehensive list of publications associated with this topic.

Vaginal precancer (VaIN) is closely tied to HPV16, and follow-up after treatment matters

VaIN, short for vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia, means abnormal cell changes in the vaginal lining that can progress to cancer if untreated. It is uncommon and can come back after treatment, so understanding who is at higher risk helps guide care.

• If you have VaIN, the HPV type involved may help predict how serious it is. Among 42 women with VaIN at the University of Naples Federico II in Italy, about three in four had high-grade disease, and HPV16-related infection was much more common in high-grade than low-grade lesions. About one in five had the precancer return after treatment, a median of about 11 months later; HPV16 was more common among those whose disease came back, but that link was not definitive in this small study. Because a cell test (cytology) alone had limited sensitivity, the authors recommend combining cytology, HPV typing, and colposcopy, a close magnified examination. (Read the full paper)

• There is still no approved cream or gel for treating precancer of the vagina, cervix, or vulva, and better-designed studies are needed to find one. A narrative review explains why dozens of trials have been hard to interpret: studies have differed in which lesions they treated, how they measured success, and whether they accounted for lesions that would have cleared on their own. Randomized evidence currently supports imiquimod cream as a non-surgical option for appropriately selected women with high-grade vulvar lesions, and the authors offer a framework to make future trials clearer. (Read the full paper)

Check the citations section for a comprehensive list of publications associated with this topic.

Rare vaginal cancers, including melanoma, sarcoma, and clear cell carcinoma, are being better described

Primary vaginal melanoma, sarcomas, and clear cell carcinoma are rare even among vaginal cancers, so each reported case helps clinicians recognize and treat them. This month's work in this area included a case of vaginal melanoma, a pathology series of a rare sarcoma that included vaginal tumors, and a fertility-preservation technique for a young woman with vaginal clear cell carcinoma; these papers are listed in the citations.

Check the citations section for a comprehensive list of publications associated with this topic.

What Does This Mean for Me?

If you have been diagnosed with VaIN: Ask which HPV type was found and what your follow-up plan will be. VaIN can return after treatment, sometimes within a year, so regular checkups that combine a cell test, HPV testing, and colposcopy are important. A good question for your care team: "How often should I be checked, and what will we do if the changes come back?"

If you are thinking about HPV vaccination for yourself or your family: HPV vaccination is linked to fewer high-grade precancers and invasive cancers in population studies, and persistent HPV16 infection is one of the strongest drivers of vaginal precancer. Talk with your clinician about whether vaccination is recommended for you or your children.

If you are facing a rare vaginal cancer: Rare subtypes such as melanoma, sarcoma, and clear cell carcinoma benefit from care at a center with gynecologic oncology and pathology expertise. If you hope to have children in the future, ask about fertility preservation before treatment begins. Because vaginal cancer is so rare, clinical trials and patient registries are especially valuable, and OCRA's patient support resources can help you find trials and connect with others in the community.

This digest is prepared by OCRA (Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance) for patients, caregivers, and advocates. It is intended to inform, not to guide individual treatment decisions. Please speak with your care team about what research findings may mean for your specific situation.

Sources

The citations below are grouped to match the sections above. "Directly referenced" papers are the ones summarized in that section, and the remaining entries are on-topic papers behind access restrictions; this month every open-access paper was summarized, so there are no additional open-access citations.

HPV vaccination and knowing your HPV type are central to preventing vaginal cancer

Directly referenced:

1. Jouya S, et al. "From HPV Detection to Cancer Prevention: The Role of Infection Persistence, Genotype, and Anatomical Site in HPV-Associated Cancers." J Clin Med. October 19, 2026. PMID 42941611. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15208098

Related citations, access restricted:

2. Hill A, et al. "Multilevel factors associated with human papillomavirus vaccination coverage in Iowa youth: Evidence from a statewide immunization registry." Prev Med. October 28, 2026. PMID 42951083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2026.108691 (subscription access)

3. Divakar H, et al. "Vaccination for girls and women across the life course: Evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice and policy." Int J Gynaecol Obstet. October 12, 2026. PMID 42861791. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.71330 (restricted license, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

4. Wieland U, Kreuter A. "[Vaccine prevention of HPV-associated diseases]." Dermatologie (Heidelb). October 2026. PMID 42726205. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00105-026-05786-z (subscription access)

Vaginal precancer (VaIN) is closely tied to HPV16, and follow-up after treatment matters

Directly referenced:

5. Della Corte L, et al. "Clinical, Cytological, and Virological Factors Associated with Histological Severity and Recurrence in Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia: A Retrospective Observational Study." J Invest Surg. October 19, 2026. PMID 42894888. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941939.2026.2719254

6. Gavril ST, et al. "From Active Compound to Target Epithelium: Local Delivery, Preclinical Model Validity, and Clinical Endpoint Interpretation in Topical Therapy for HPV-Associated Lower Genital Tract Disease-A Narrative Review." J Clin Med. October 2, 2026. PMID 42882092. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15197631

Related citations, access restricted:

7. Guo C, et al. "Human Papillomavirus Infection in Patients With VaIN and Vaginal Cancer: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study." J Low Genit Tract Dis. October 1, 2026. PMID 42407123. https://doi.org/10.1097/LGT.0000000000000969 (restricted license, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

8. Hag P, et al. "[Let's continue to differentiate VaIN 2 from VaIN 3: a study on the progression of a series of 54 cases of VaIN 2]." Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol. October 9, 2026. PMID 42855129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gofs.2026.09.006 (restricted license, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

9. Xiong J, et al. "The detection trends of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) by colposcopic from 2020-2023 and analysis of clinical efficacy of photodynamic and carbondioxide laser in VaIN." Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. October 2026. PMID 42586289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2026.105609 (restricted license, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Rare vaginal cancers, including melanoma, sarcoma, and clear cell carcinoma, are being better described

Related citations, access restricted:

10. Maddirala H, et al. "Primary malignant vaginal melanoma-navigating rarity, aggressiveness and therapeutic uncertainty." BMJ Case Rep. October 27, 2026. PMID 42946494. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2026-274596 (license unconfirmed)

11. Zhao L, et al. "Alveolar soft part sarcoma of the female genital tract: a clinicopathological and molecular genetic study of 26 cases." Histopathology. October 13, 2026. PMID 42865218. https://doi.org/10.1111/his.70302 (subscription access)

12. Nathoo S, et al. "Transrectal approach to oocyte retrieval in a patient with vaginal cancer." Fertil Steril. October 30, 2026. PMID 42962962. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2026.07.011 (restricted license, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

A note on how this digest was made: This edition was built by searching PubMed for papers published in October 2026, using eleven targeted searches covering vaginal cancer and its adjacent topics (VaIN, HPV-related disease and prevention, and rare subtypes such as clear cell carcinoma, melanoma, and sarcoma), including a dedicated search for qualitative and patient-experience research. Papers summarized in full are open access under a permitted license (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC BY-ND, or CC BY-NC); on-topic papers under other licenses are listed by citation only. A companion methodology report, available separately, documents the full search-and-screening process and every paper reviewed.

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Vulvar Cancer

Vulvar cancer is rare, and it touches parts of life that are deeply personal, from body image and intimacy to a diagnosis that often takes a long time to reach. Research moves in steady steps, and October's work focused on getting the basics right: an international society issued updated names for vulvar precancers that clearly separate disease caused by HPV, the human papillomavirus, from disease that grows out of the chronic skin condition lichen sclerosus. Surgeons reported that fluorescent dyes can make sentinel lymph node mapping more accurate, and a nationwide study from Finland linked today's more tailored surgery to better survival. Researchers also asked people with vulvar cancer and their partners what matters most to their quality of life, explored new drug targets in tumor tissue, and documented a striking response to a targeted drug in a rare form of the disease. A national study of treatment timing showed that some communities still wait longer to start care.

The papers highlighted here represent a selection of those published during the month. The papers were selected and summarized by AI. Accuracy of the summaries was confirmed by a scientist. This digest incorporates only open-access research articles that are free to be read by the entire community and that are explicitly licensed to be shared and reused.

A new international vocabulary separates the two pathways that lead to vulvar precancer

Vulvar precancer comes in two forms that behave differently: one caused by HPV, and one that almost always arises in skin affected by lichen sclerosus, a chronic condition that thins and scars vulvar tissue. Naming them clearly helps patients get the right treatment and follow-up.

• If you have been told you have VIN (vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, precancerous cell changes in the surface layer of the vulva), the label on your pathology report is changing to say more clearly which kind you have. The International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease, in a 2026 terminology statement from the University of Newcastle in Australia, now requires two lab stains (p16 and p53) to sort VIN into HPV-associated and HPV-independent disease. HPV-independent VIN almost always arises from longstanding lichen sclerosus and is further divided by p53 pattern, and the statement adds a category for lichen sclerosus lesions of uncertain potential, so it is worth asking your care team which type you have and what follow-up it calls for. (Read the full paper)

Check the citations section for a comprehensive list of publications associated with this topic.

Fluorescent tracers are helping surgeons find sentinel lymph nodes

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a procedure that tests the first one or two lymph nodes most likely to receive cancer cells, which lets many people avoid removing all the groin lymph nodes and the long-term leg swelling (lymphedema) that can follow. Finding those nodes reliably is what makes the approach safe.

• Adding a fluorescent dye to the standard radioactive tracer helped surgeons find sentinel nodes that would otherwise be missed. At Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet in Denmark, 113 people with early-stage vulvar cancer had sentinel nodes mapped with a hybrid tracer combining indocyanine green (ICG), a dye that glows under near-infrared light, and a radioactive tracer. In 11% of groins, mostly with tumors near the midline, the dye was the only way the sentinel node was found, and after a median of 52 months, cancer returned in the groin in only 1.9% of groins where the sentinel node was negative. (Read the full paper)

• A fluorescent dye used on its own found sentinel nodes as often as the standard radioactive tracer plus blue dye. In a single-center study of 50 people with early vulvar cancer at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, ICG found sentinel nodes in 95.3% of groins, compared with 87.0% for the standard method, a difference that was not statistically significant. The study was not designed to show the two approaches are equally safe for preventing recurrence, so the standard method remains the benchmark for now. (Read the full paper)

Check the citations section for a comprehensive list of publications associated with this topic.

Personalized surgery is linked to better survival, with more complications to manage

Surgery for vulvar cancer has shifted over the past two decades from very extensive operations toward approaches tailored to each tumor, including sentinel node biopsy and reconstructive techniques.

• More personalized surgery is linked to longer survival, though with more complications along the way. Researchers compared everyone in Finland who had surgery for vulvar squamous cell carcinoma in 2000 to 2005 with those treated in 2014 to 2019. Two-year survival rose from 67.1% to 77.4%, while complications after surgery rose from 7.6% to 20.3% and repeat operations from 5.6% to 10.0%, which the authors suggest may partly reflect more complex surgery and more careful recording of complications. (Read the full paper)

Check the citations section for a comprehensive list of publications associated with this topic.

Researchers asked people with vulvar cancer and their partners which quality-of-life outcomes matter most

Vulvar cancer and its treatment can affect sexual health, body image, wound healing, and emotional well-being. Knowing what matters most to patients helps care teams ask the right questions.

• Your care team now has a clearer list of what to ask about after surgery, shaped by people who have lived it. In the Netherlands, researchers interviewed people treated for vulvar cancer, their partners, and health professionals, then ran a consensus process to agree on 45 core quality-of-life outcomes, spanning physical symptoms and physical, sexual, and emotional functioning. The list includes topics often left out of studies, such as wound healing, body image, and fear of recurrence, while partners said the most important thing for them was good information. (Read the full paper)

Check the citations section for a comprehensive list of publications associated with this topic.

Tumor biology is pointing toward new treatment targets

Treatment options for advanced or recurrent vulvar cancer are limited, so researchers are looking in tumor tissue for features that newer targeted drugs could act on.

• A protein called Nectin-4 could become a target for treating vulvar cancer, but this is early research. In tumor samples from 219 people at Erlangen University Hospital in Germany, about a third of vulvar squamous cell carcinomas showed moderate to strong Nectin-4, the target of the drug enfortumab vedotin, an antibody-drug conjugate used in urothelial (bladder) cancer. Nectin-4 levels did not predict survival, and the authors say more laboratory and clinical work is needed before this approach can be tested in people with vulvar cancer. (Read the full paper)

Check the citations section for a comprehensive list of publications associated with this topic.

Rare vulvar cancers, including Paget's disease, adenocarcinoma, and melanoma, are being treated with lessons from other cancers

Extramammary Paget's disease, mammary-type adenocarcinoma, and melanoma of the vulva are rare enough that treatment often borrows from experience with other cancers. Individual cases and reviews help build that experience.

• A targeted drug produced a strong response in one person with advanced vulvar Paget's disease, a rare skin-based cancer. Doctors at Hospices Civils de Lyon in France describe a patient whose metastatic vulvar extramammary Paget's disease carried high levels of the HER2 protein and had progressed after surgery, radiation, and trastuzumab; the antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan then shrank the cancer, including spread to the brain, with acceptable side effects. As a single case it cannot show how often this works, but it supports testing tumors for HER2 when standard options run out. (Read the full paper)

• Vulvar and breast cancers share more than you might expect. A literature review describes breast-like glands in the vulva, the rare mammary-type adenocarcinoma that can arise from them, and shared genetic and hormonal links such as BRCA mutations, while noting that the role of HPV in breast cancer remains controversial. Recognizing these connections may help with diagnosis and treatment choices for rare vulvar tumors. (Read the full paper)

Check the citations section for a comprehensive list of publications associated with this topic.

Epidemiology, access, and health disparities research

Where you live and who you are can affect how quickly you start treatment. This month's research examined those gaps, alongside work on HPV vaccination, which can prevent HPV-related vulvar disease.

• Hispanic women with vulvar cancer were more likely to wait more than a month to start treatment. Using the US National Cancer Database, researchers studied 9,023 women with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma and found 31% higher odds of treatment delay for Hispanic women than for non-Hispanic White women, a gap not explained by neighborhood income or other factors. Race and ethnicity were not linked to overall survival after adjustment, and the authors call for culturally responsive efforts to reduce delays. (Read the full paper)

Check the citations section for a comprehensive list of publications associated with this topic.

What Does This Mean for Me?

If you have been diagnosed with VIN or have lichen sclerosus: Ask which type of VIN you have, HPV-associated or HPV-independent, since the new terminology ties each type to different treatment and follow-up. If you have lichen sclerosus, keep up with regular checks, because HPV-independent precancer almost always develops in that setting. A good question for your care team: "Was my biopsy tested for p16 and p53, and what does that mean for my follow-up?"

If you are facing surgery for early vulvar cancer: Ask whether you are a candidate for sentinel lymph node biopsy and which tracer your center uses; studies this month support adding a fluorescent dye to improve detection. It is also fair to ask about complications such as wound healing, and to share what matters most to you, including sexual health, body image, and fear of recurrence.

If your cancer is rare or has come back: Ask whether your tumor has been tested for markers such as HER2, which may open up targeted treatment options. Clinical trials and patient registries are especially important in a rare cancer, and OCRA's patient support resources can help you find trials and connect with others in the community.

This digest is prepared by OCRA (Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance) for patients, caregivers, and advocates. It is intended to inform, not to guide individual treatment decisions. Please speak with your care team about what research findings may mean for your specific situation.

Sources

The citations below are grouped to match the sections above. "Directly referenced" papers are the ones summarized in that section, and the remaining entries are on-topic papers either not discussed above or behind access restrictions.

A new international vocabulary separates the two pathways that lead to vulvar precancer

Directly referenced:

1. Day T, et al. "2026 International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease terminology for vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous intraepithelial lesions." Am J Obstet Gynecol. October 2026. PMID 42214713. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2026.05.017

Related citations, access restricted:

2. Hejl L, et al. "Methyl aminolevulinate-PpIX mediated fluorescence-guided mapping of high-grade vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia: a pilot prospective clinical trial (PhotoDiVin)." Lasers Med Sci. October 29, 2026. PMID 42955379. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-026-05047-4 (restricted license, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

3. Hampl M, Wölber L. "[Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia and vulvar cancer]." Dermatologie (Heidelb). October 2026. PMID 42773184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00105-026-05777-0 (subscription access)

Fluorescent tracers are helping surgeons find sentinel lymph nodes

Directly referenced:

4. Frøding LP, et al. "Feasibility of real-time near-infrared fluorescence tracer imaging in sentinel lymph node biopsy for vulvar cancer patients." Gynecol Oncol. October 2026. PMID 42767171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2026.09.010

5. Vida B, et al. "Comparison of Indocyanine Green as a Standalone Tracer Versus Technetium-99m Combined With Blue Dye for Sentinel Lymph Node Detection in Vulvar Cancer." J Minim Invasive Gynecol. October 2026. PMID 41946447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2026.04.002

Additional open-access citations:

6. Kerschbaum A, et al. "ASO Author Reflections: ICG-Only Sentinel Node Mapping: A Step Toward Simplifying Vulvar Cancer Surgery." Ann Surg Oncol. October 16, 2026. PMID 42888294. https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-026-20737-7 (author reflections on ICG-only sentinel node mapping)

Related citations, access restricted:

7. Ferreira BS, et al. "Superparamagnetic iron oxide tracer for sentinel lymph node detection in vulvar cancer: a single-center experience." J Obstet Gynaecol Can. October 30, 2026. PMID 42962756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogc.2026.103564 (subscription access)

8. D'Angelo G, et al. "From blue dye to multimodal-guided surgery: The evolution of sentinel lymph node mapping in vulvar cancer - A narrative review." Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. October 20, 2026. PMID 42901335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2026.105658 (restricted license, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Personalized surgery is linked to better survival, with more complications to manage

Directly referenced:

9. Mörsky MK, et al. "Contemporary surgical management of vulvar cancer is associated with improved survival but increased reoperation rate: A Finnish nationwide study." Gynecol Oncol. October 2026. PMID 42767169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2026.09.009

Related citations, access restricted:

10. Paesano N, et al. "Project international Delphi consensus recommendations for perioperative management of inguinal lymphadenectomy in cancer patients." Urol Oncol. October 16, 2026. PMID 42888112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urolonc.2026.09.018 (subscription access)

Researchers asked people with vulvar cancer and their partners which quality-of-life outcomes matter most

Directly referenced:

11. Machielsen A, et al. "Determining core quality of life outcomes for patients with vulvar cancer and their partners: a Delphi consensus study." Support Care Cancer. October 6, 2026. PMID 42837010. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-026-11270-0

Tumor biology is pointing toward new treatment targets

Directly referenced:

12. Stuebs FA, et al. "Nectin-4 expression in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma." Virchows Arch. October 2026. PMID 41888429. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-026-04495-1

Additional open-access citations:

13. Kotlica B, et al. "Association ofGene Polymorphisms with Skin, Vulvar and Ectocervical Squamous Cell Tumors." Medicina (Kaunas). October 15, 2026. PMID 42942531. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62102000 (genetic variants in skin, vulvar, and cervical squamous tumors)

Related citations, access restricted:

14. Warring SK, et al. "Prognostic implications of HPV and TP53 status in early-stage vulvar squamous cell carcinoma." Gynecol Oncol. October 2026. PMID 42743681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygyno.2026.08.020 (subscription access)

15. Warring SK, et al. "Molecular subtypes of stage III vulvar squamous cell carcinoma predict recurrence and survival outcomes." Gynecol Oncol Rep. October 2026. PMID 42699521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gore.2026.102192 (restricted license, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Rare vulvar cancers, including Paget's disease, adenocarcinoma, and melanoma, are being treated with lessons from other cancers

Directly referenced:

16. Thomas M, et al. "Dramatic response to trastuzumab-deruxtecan in metastatic HER2-overexpressing vulvar extramammary Paget's disease: A case report." Gynecol Oncol Rep. October 2026. PMID 42824666. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gore.2026.102213

17. Ionescu S, et al. "Associations and Similarities Between Breast Cancer and Vulvar Cancer: A Comprehensive Literature Review." Medicina (Kaunas). October 3, 2026. PMID 42942445. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62101914

Related citations, access restricted:

18. Levin L, et al. "Advanced vulvar adenocarcinoma of mammary gland type: a case report." Case Rep Womens Health. October 5, 2026. PMID 42898055. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crwh.2026.e00865 (restricted license, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

19. De Giorgi V, et al. "Surgical delay in early-stage vulvar melanoma: caution in defining a causal threshold." J Am Acad Dermatol. October 15, 2026. PMID 42880503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2026.07.148 (subscription access)

20. Tran HTT, et al. "Response to De Giorgi et al., "Surgical delay in early-stage vulvar melanoma: caution in defining a causal threshold."." J Am Acad Dermatol. October 16, 2026. PMID 42887597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2026.10.030 (subscription access)

Epidemiology, access, and health disparities research

Directly referenced:

21. Yousif A, et al. "Racial disparities in time to treatment initiation and survival outcomes in patients with vulvar cancer: a national cancer database analysis." Int J Clin Oncol. October 2026. PMID 42410146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-026-03111-1

Related citations, access restricted:

22. Hill A, et al. "Multilevel factors associated with human papillomavirus vaccination coverage in Iowa youth: Evidence from a statewide immunization registry." Prev Med. October 28, 2026. PMID 42951083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2026.108691 (subscription access)

23. Divakar H, et al. "Vaccination for girls and women across the life course: Evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice and policy." Int J Gynaecol Obstet. October 12, 2026. PMID 42861791. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.71330 (restricted license, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

A note on how this digest was made: This edition was built by searching PubMed for papers published in October 2026, using targeted searches across the vulvar cancer landscape (sentinel lymph node and groin management, surgery and morbidity, radiation and chemoradiation, lichen sclerosus and VIN/dVIN/HSIL, HPV prevention, rare subtypes, immunotherapy, biomarkers, survivorship, and disparities) plus a dedicated qualitative search. Papers summarized in full are open access under a permitted license (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC BY-ND, or CC BY-NC); on-topic papers under other licenses are listed by citation only. A companion methodology report, available separately, documents the full search-and-screening process and every paper reviewed.