Cervical cancer screening in the era of HPV vaccination: A review of shifting paradigms in cytopathology

A comprehensive narrative review of challenges and facilitators in the implementation of various HPV vaccination program worldwide

INTRODUCTION

Cervical cancer has been considered as one of the most common cancers in women (15-44 years) globally, but the advent of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine has raised the anticipation that eradication of cervical carcinoma might be achieved in the near future as several prophylactic cervical carcinoma vaccines have already been currently licensed in various countries. Countries should devise strategies, practices and policies to attain and sustain higher levels of HPV immunization coverage as still 68% countries have introduced HPV vaccine in their national immunization programs even after 17 years following the licensure of the first prophylactic HPV vaccine.

METHODOLOGY

A comprehensive literature analysis was conducted using various databases and search engines, to include the most relevant research articles and data available and critically discussed the operational gaps that need to be answered to achieve adequate coverage of HPV vaccination.

RESULTS

The present review highlights the existing HPV vaccination strategies, unmet needs and challenges needed to be addressed for proper implementation framework as well as the collaborations required to achieve decent vaccination coverage. Well-coordinated vaccination strategy with focus on adolescent girls and if possible, boys can lead to dramatic impact on disease reduction around the world.

Clinical impact of age‑specific distribution of combination patterns of cytology and high‑risk HPV status on cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or more

To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to elucidate the significance of cytology and high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) status in different age groups for the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)2, CIN3 and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). There were 12 combinations based on cytology and hrHPV status [cytology: Atypical squamous cells (ASC) of undetermined significance, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, ASC not excluding high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and HSIL; hrHPV status: HPV16/18-positive (16/18+), hrHPV positive for subtypes other than 16/18 (others+) and hrHPV-negative (hrHPV-)]. All patients were categorized into four groups based on age (18-29, 30-39, 40-49 and ≥50 years). For patients with CIN2, CIN3 and SCC (CIN2+) (n=107), the distribution of cytology and hrHPV was investigated in each age group. In addition, for all patients (n=446), the occurrence of CIN2+ in each of the 12 combinations was investigated in each age group. In the 18-29-year age group, the most common combination was HSIL and 16/18+, followed by HSIL and others+, which accounted for 73% of CIN2+ cases. The occurrence of HSIL and 16/18+ decreased with increasing age, and no cases occurred in the 50-year age group. In the 18-29-year age group, all patients with HSIL and 16/18+ were diagnosed with CIN2+. CIN2+ was predominantly detected in patients with HSIL in the 18-29-year age group, as well as hrHPV- and others+. This definite distinction was not observed in any other age group. For CIN2+, the distribution patterns of cytology and hrHPV status combinations varied significantly among different age groups. Accordingly, the clinical impact of the combination of cytological findings and hrHPV status can vary among age groups.

When and How Would You Screen This Patient for Cervical Cancer? : Grand Rounds Discussion From Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Successful screening programs based on cervical cytology have dramatically reduced the incidence of cervical cancer in the United States. Human papillomavirus immunization is poised to reduce it further as an increasing percentage of vaccinated women reach adulthood. A recent guideline from the American Cancer Society advises that cervical cancer screening begin at age 25 and that high-risk human papillomavirus testing is the preferred screening test. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening begin at age 21 and that cytology remain incorporated into screening. Here, 2 experts debate how to apply these guidelines to Ms. L, a 22-year-old woman who has never undergone cervical cancer screening.

Comparison of the Hybrid Capture II Method with a PCR-Based Screening Method Using a Carboxyfluorescein-Labeled Primer for Detecting Human Papillomavirus in Cervicovaginal Liquid-Based Cytology

Objective: Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are DNA viruses, of which over 120 types have been identified. The main screening methods for HPV-DNA include the hybrid capture II (HC-II) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Liquid-based cytology (LBC) is a high-quality technique developed to improve the diagnostic reliability of traditional Papanicolaou tests (Pap tests). However, relatively few studies have compared the efficacy of PCR and HC-II assays using cervicovaginal LBC specimens. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis with results derived from the HC-II assay to assess whether a PCR-based assay using a novel carboxyfluorescein (FAM)-labeled primer could be applied to cervicovaginal LBC specimens. Methods and Results: We analyzed 59 specimens diagnosed as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) by Pap tests. After extracting DNA from cervicovaginal LBC specimens, we performed PCR using a FAM-labeled consensus primer, and then conducted fragment analysis to confirm the results. The value of the kappa statistic measuring the agreement between the PCR and HC-II results was 0.8557, or “almost perfect agreement.” Conclusion: Our novel HPV-PCR assay can be successfully applied to cervicovaginal LBC specimens for the detection of HPV subtypes.

Role of HPV 16 variants among cervical carcinoma samples from Northeastern Brazil

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer affecting women globally. In Brazil, it is the third most frequent type of cancer in women and HPV is present in approximately 90% of cases. Evidence suggests that variants of HPV 16 can interfere biologically and etiologically during the development of cervical cancer.

METHODS

Cervix tumor fragments were collected, their DNA was extracted, and nested PCR was used to detect HPV. Positive samples were sequenced to determine the viral genotype. To characterize the HPV 16 strains, positive samples PCR was used to amplify the LCR and E6 regions of the HPV 16 virus.

RESULTS

Data from 120 patients with cervical cancer were analyzed. Most women were between 41 and 54 years of age, had schooling until primary school, a family income between 1 and 2 times the minimum wage and were married/in a consensual union. There was no statistically significant association between HPV or socio-demographic variables and risk factors for cervical cancer (P <  0.05). HPV was present in 88 women (73%). The most prevalent types were HPV 16 (53.4%), HPV 18 (13.8%), HPV 35 (6.9%) and HPV 45 (5.7%). Of the 47 HPV 16 positive cases, variant A (49%) was present in 23 samples, followed by variant D in 20 cases (43%), and variants B and C in 2 cases each (4%). The most prevalent histological type of HPV 16 tumors was squamous cell carcinoma, followed by adenocarcinoma. There was a statistically significant association between HPV 16 variants and the tumors' histological types (P <  0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge of HPV 16 variants will provide data on their influence on the pathological and oncogenic aspects of cervical lesions.

Human Papillomavirus E6 biosensing: Current progression on early detection strategies for cervical Cancer

Prognosis of early cancer detection becomes one of the tremendous issues in the medical health system. Medical debates among specialist doctor and researcher in therapeutic approaches became a hot concern for cervix cancer deficiencies early screening, risk factors cross-reaction, portability device, rapid and free labeling system. The electrical biosensing based system showed credibility in higher specificity and selectivity due to hybridization of DNA duplex between analyte target and DNA probes. Electrical DNA sensor for cervix cancer has attracted too many attentions to researcher notification based on high performance, easy to handle, rapid system and possible to miniaturize. This review explores the current progression and future insignificant for HPV E6 genobiosensing for early Detection Strategies of Cervical Cancer.

Opportunities and challenges for human papillomavirus vaccination in cancer

The discovery of genotype 16 as the prototype oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) initiated a quarter century of laboratory and epidemiological studies that demonstrated their necessary, but not sufficient, aetiological role in cervical and several other anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. Early virus-induced immune deviation can lead to persistent subclinical infection that brings the risk of progression to cancer. Effective secondary prevention of cervical cancer through cytological and/or HPV screening depends on regular and widespread use in the general population, but coverage is inadequate in low-resource settings. The discovery that the major capsid antigen L1 could self-assemble into empty virus-like particles (VLPs) that are both highly immunogenic and protective led to the licensure of several prophylactic VLP-based HPV vaccines for the prevention of cervical cancer. The implementation of vaccination programmes in adolescent females is underway in many countries, but their impact critically depends on the population coverage and is improved by herd immunity. This Review considers how our expanding knowledge of the virology and immunology of HPV infection can be exploited to improve vaccine technologies and delivery of such preventive strategies to maximize reductions in HPV-associated disease, including incorporation of an HPV vaccine covering oncogenic types within a standard multitarget paediatric vaccine.

"The Future of Vulvar Disease: New and Ongoing Challenges": Presidential Lecture - XXIV World Congress 2017, Mendoza, Argentina

The 21st century brought along a number of discoveries and medical advances. With the advances, we can mention the following: target therapies for cancer, genomics and molecular biology, pharmacogenomics, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, immunosuppressive therapies in transplant patients, human papillomavirus in the era of vaccination, and aesthetic vulvovaginal procedures. All of them have greatly influenced medicine. As a scientific society, we have several challenges. In the past, you had to go to a library to get information. Now, we have readily available, accessible information. Thus, here comes the debate; we are facing a change in our educational paradigm, which needs to be approached from an integral and holistic perspective. New historical and cultural circumstances call for a deep reflection on the current social validity of scientific societies. They should be open to new ideas and allow dissent, work in teams, and speak a common language. They must be organized and, in constant communication with its members, support and organize research developing well-designed clinical trials and observational studies. We should work for our patients, recognizing the importance of the whole woman. We all have a great scientific and humanitarian challenge; to succeed, we must not lose sight of who we are working for. We work for them, our patients, and not for us. Our mission is to take care of our them!