When restricting the phenotype to invasive cervical cancer case samples only (n=764), signals in the PAX8 and HLA regions were attenuated and did not reach the genome-wide significance level, and a novel locus was detected at 12q24.11 (rs117960705; OR 2·41 [95% CI 1·81–3·23]; p=2·76 × 10−9) located in the ACACB gene (appendix p 120). Here, ACACB is linked to cervical cancer.