HPV Testing Approach More Effective Than Conventional Cancer Screening Methods, Study Says

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Article Date: 05 Jul 2006 - 3:00 PDT

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Testing for human papillomavirus is a more effective approach for detecting precancerous cells in women under age 35 than standard cervical cancer screening methods, according to preliminary findings of a study published in the July edition of the journal Lancet Oncology, Reuters Health reports (Rauscher, Reuters Health, 6/29). Guglielmo Ronco from the Center for Cancer Prevention in Turin, Italy, and colleagues randomly assigned 5,808 women ages 25 to 34 to a conventional cervical cancer screening method -- which involved standard pap tests and a referral for a colposcopy procedure if the test produced abnormal results -- and 6,002 women to an experimental HPV screening procedure -- which involved a liquid-based pap test, screening for high-risk forms of HPV and referral to colposcopy if needed (Ronco, Lancet Oncology, 6/29). The study finds that the HPV test -- in conjunction with a cervical cell examination, which is a confirmatory test performed in the case of positive results -- is better than the traditional Pap test to detect precancerous cells. By using HPV testing, followed by the cell test if necessary, researchers "showed that it is possible to have a relevant increase" in precancerous cell detection without increasing the false results, Ronco said. Follow-up research should provide information to help guide the "decision to switch to HPV testing as a routine method for cervical screening," Ronco said (Reuters Health, 6/29).

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