Follow-up trials reported in 2026 found 29 women achieved complete clearance of high-risk HPV after photodynamic therapy, marking the latest result for the non-surgical approach.
The treatment uses a light-activated gel to selectively destroy HPV-infected cervical cells, targeting HPV-16 and HPV-18—the strains tied to about 90% of cervical cancer cases.
The new data build on a 2017 study in which all 20 women with CIN I cleared HPV-16 and HPV-18 after one session, and on 2023 results showing cervical lesion regression without surgery.
Researchers say the findings suggest photodynamic therapy could emerge as a less invasive option for managing high-risk HPV, though broader validation is still needed.