BDNF and cervical cancer: Since up-to-date literature shows that neurotrophin expression, in particular, BDNF, was upregulated in invasive cervical cancer and that neurotrophins are also upregulated in the peripheral nervous system in patients with HIV infection, we aimed to investigate whether neurotrophins, in HIV-infected women, might play a crucial role in the enhancement and accelerated progression of cervical preneoplastic disease and invasive tumors.