Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University of Innsbruck in Austria have created a simpler and more efficient screening method for cervical cancer than the current method. A thorough study published in Nature Medicine reveals that the new test can detect a greater number of cancers and precancerous stages. This means it is a more effective screening method for cervical cancer.Screening is vital for early detection and prevention, and most countries have extensive programs for this. These programs usually start with testing for various types of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the main cause of cervical cancer. If the test is positive for HPV, a cytological analysis is then conducted, which involves examining cell samples from the cervix under a microscope. However, this analysis depends on human interpretation.
There is a new molecular test called WID-qCIN that may replace cytological analysis. This test can automatically analyze epigenetic changes in cells, which are changes that affect which genes are active and which are inactive. These changes are influenced by factors such as age, environment, and lifestyle.Facts such as living conditions, lifestyle, and getting older, can increase the chances of developing cancer and other illnesses. A recent research involved over 28,000 women aged 30 and above who took part in a screening in Stockholm between January and March 2017. Researchers analyzed 2,377 samples that tested positive for HPV using the WID-qCIN test, along with a test for two high-risk HPV types (HPV 16 and 18). This method allowed them to identify all invasive cervical cancers and 93% of severe precancerous lesions that occurred within a year of the sample being taken. Additionally, the new test, combined with the HPV 16/18 test, 16/18 tests have demonstrated the ability to predict 69% of all cancers and precancerous lesions up to six years after the sample was taken, compared to only 18% with current screening methods. Joakim Dillner, a Professor at the Karolinska Institutet, suggests that integrating the WID-qCIN test into screening programs could lead to the identification of more cancer cases while reducing the need for invasive procedures. In today’s screening program, when cell changes are detected, the woman undergoes a vaginal exam.The process of detecting cervical abnormalities, known as colposcopy, involves the gynaecologist using a microscope to examine the cervix and potentially performing a biopsy if necessary. However, the biopsy can have adverse effects such as increasing the risk of premature delivery. The findings of the recent study indicate that using the WID-qCIN test could potentially reduce the need for colposcopy examinations by 40%. “This would be a significant improvement from the current screening methods that have been in place since the 1960s,” stated the study’s lead author, Martin Widschwendter, who is a Professor at the University of Innsbruck.According to Dr. Berger, an Assistant Professor at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, “The WID-qCIN test can enhance the effectiveness of cervical cancer prevention programs and support the global strategy to eradicate cervical cancer due to its simplicity and unbiased assessment.”
The study received funding from the federal state of Tyrol and the European Union’s research and innovation programme Horizon 2020. Some of the authors have patents related to the WID-qCIN test and have financial interests in Sola Diagnostics GmbH, which has the rights to commercialize the test. Co-author Karin Sundström has received consulting fees and research grants from Merck Sharp & Dohme.Merck & Co funded research on HPV vaccination in Sweden.
