Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing at a first screening results in detection of fewer cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 or worse, CIN grade 3 or worse, and cervical cancer at a second screening five years later, according to a study published online Dec. 15 in The Lancet Oncology. Dorien C. Rijkaart, M.D., from the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and colleagues investigated whether HPV DNA testing in a first screen impacted the detection of CIN grade 2 or worse, CIN grade 3 or worse, and cervical cancer in a second screening five years later.
Dorien C. Rijkaart, M.D., from the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and colleagues investigated whether HPV DNA testing in a first screen impacted the detection of CIN grade 2 or worse, CIN grade 3 or worse, and cervical cancer in a second screening five years later. Women (aged 29 to 56 years) were randomized to HPV DNA and cytology co-testing (intervention) or to cytology alone (control) at the first screen, while HPV DNA and cytology co-testing was done for both groups at the second screening.
The investigators found that, at the second screen, CIN grade 3 or worse and cervical cancer were significantly less common in the intervention than control group. In the baseline round, significantly more cases of CIN grade 2 or worse were detected in the intervention group. At the second screen, non-HPV16-positive CIN grade 3 or worse detection did not differ significantly between the groups (P = 1.0), but fewer HPV16-positive CIN grade 3 or worse were detected in the intervention group. Cumulative detection of CIN grade 2 or worse and CIN grade 3 or worse was not significantly different between study groups (P = 0.631).
"Our results lend support to the use of HPV DNA testing for all women aged 29 years and older," the authors write.
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Several authors disclosed financial relationships with the pharmaceutical industry. Several authors hold patents pertaining to HPV detection and cervical cancer.