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New test effectively identified women at high-risk for HPV types 16, 18
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HPV types 16 and 18 genotyping can identify women at high-risk for high-grade cervical disease, and this additional risk stratification may be used in formulating patient management decisions, according to researchers for the ATHENA HPV study.
“At least four out-of five women in the US will have been infected with HPV at some point in their lives, and it’s critical to have early and accurate information about which individuals are at greatest risk for possible progression to cervical cancer,” Mark H. Stoler, MD, professor and associate director of Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology at the University of Virginia Health System, said in a press release.
Researchers assessed the performance of the cobas 4800 HPV Test (Roche Molecular Systems) for high-risk HPV testing with individual HPV types 16 and 18 in 47,208 women aged 21 years and older with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.
Women were recruited in the United States during routine screening. Liquid-based cytology and HPV testing were performed. The atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance prevalence was 4.1%.
The test demonstrated performance comparable to the Hybrid Capture 2 test (QIAGEN) for the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse and grade 3 or worse. Compared with pooled high-risk HPV negative and positive women, women who tested positive for HPV types 16 and 18 had a greater absolute risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or worse (0.8%, 14% and 24.4%, respectively).
“Results from ATHENA demonstrated that the [test] is a clinically valid tool for physicians needing to manage the ASC-US population as it identifies not only high-risk HPV, but also HPV-16/HPV-18 without additional tests. This ability to identify genotype-related risk will also be highly useful if revisions to ASC-US management guidelines are considered,” Stoler said.
For more information:
- Stoler MH. Amer J Clin Path. 2011;doi: 10.1309/AJCPZ5JY6FCVNMOT.