Usefulness of human papillomavirus testing in the follow-up of patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after conization

Persistent HPV infection after conization of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-- a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To systematically evaluate several factors of persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection following conization in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched from January 1, 1998 to September 10, 2021. Random-effects models for meta-analyses were used and pooled relative risks with 95% confidence intervals were reported. Literature screening, data extraction, and assessment of the risk of bias in the included studies were conducted independently by two researchers. Data analysis was performed with Stata software, version 12.0.

RESULTS

A total of 28 studies were included in this study. Meta-analysis revealed that surgical margin and residual disease were positively correlated with persistent HPV infection after conization. Compared with patients infected with other types of HPV, CIN patients with HPV 16 had a higher persistent infection rate (OR = 1.967, 95% CI (1.232-3.140), P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

CIN patients who are postmenopausal, have positive surgical margins and residual lesions, and are positive for HPV 16 are prone to persistent HPV infection after conization.

High Prevalence of Non-Vaccinated Oncogenic Human Papillomavirus Genotypes in High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions of the Cervix: Thought-Provoking Results of a Detailed HPV Genotype Analysis

Identification of HPV infection is usually performed on cytological specimens, despite the often transient virus types. HPV profile analysis of pathologically confirmed lesions can also be performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cone samples and should be taken as standard during follow-up. We compared HPV profiles of cytological and FFPE specimens of women diagnosed with HSIL. Archived PAP smears and FFPE cones from 49 patients were processed. For genotyping, the HPV Direct Flow CHIP test was used. All samples were positive. HPV profile agreement of the two sample types was 84.16–100%. Mono-infections occurred in 12.24% and 61.22% in PAP smears and FFPE specimens, respectively; while multi-infections were detected in 87.76% and 38.78%, respectively. The most abundant genotypes were HPVs 16, 31, and 51/33. Of all infections, 56.25% and 64.93% were caused by nonavalent vaccinated type (VT) HPVs; while 50.69% and 38.96% belonged to non-nonavalent VT HPVs, in PAP smears and FFPE specimens, respectively. Our results confirmed the importance of HPV genotyping of FFPE cone samples. We also confirmed a remarkable presence of non-vaccinated HPV types in HSIL cases indicating the importance of vaccine development.

Association Between Positive Human Papillomavirus Status After Conization and Disease Recurrence in Patients with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Grade 3

Objective

This study aimed to examine the associations of cone margin and human papillomavirus (HPV) status after conization with cytological abnormalities and disease recurrence in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3).

Methods

This is a retrospective study of 366 women with CIN3 who underwent conization at Kagoshima University Hospital between 2004 and 2017. Conization was performed using an ultrasonic scalpel. The polymerase chain reaction for detecting HPV genotypes was performed using fresh cervical cell samples. We examined the associations of margin status and HPV status after conization with cytological abnormalities and recurrence.

Results

Among 224 women with CIN3, 193 (86.2%) underwent HPV genotype testing before conization. The HPV-positive rate was 84.9%. The most common HPV genotypes before conization were HPV 16, 31, 58, 52, 18, 35, and 33. In 191 patients, the uterus was preserved after conization. Sixteen patients had pathologically positive margins, 165 had negative margins, and 10 had unclear margins. There was no significant difference in abnormal cytology and recurrence rate after conization between the three groups. Five patients with positive margins and abnormal cytology during follow-ups were HPV16- or HPV58-positive in the preoperative HPV testing. Of the 191 women, 91 (47.6%) underwent pre- and postoperative HPV genotype testing, among whom 14 (15.4%) were HPV-positive after conization. No significant difference in abnormal cytology based on HPV status after conization was found. The recurrence rate tended to be higher in HPV-positive patients than in HPV-negative patients after conization (21.4% vs. 1.3%, p < 0.05). Three patients with HPV positivity after conization and recurrence during follow-up were HPV16- or HPV58-positive.

Conclusions

HPV positivity after conization for CIN3 was associated with a high recurrence rate, especially in HPV16- and HPV58-positive patients. HPV58 has not received much attention thus far, but abnormalities in cytology and recurrence may be as likely as those associated with HPV16. Thus, a careful follow-up in such patients is recommended.

Role of human papillomavirus status after conization for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the well‐established etiologic factor for cervical neoplasia. Cervical conization constitutes an effective treatment for high‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (HG‐CIN). We conducted an observational study for long‐term outcomes and HPV genotype changes after conization for HG‐CIN. Between 2008 and 2014, patients with newly diagnosed HG‐CIN before conization (surveillance new [SN] group) and those who had undergone conization without hysterectomy (surveillance previous [SP] group) were enrolled. HPV testing and Pap smear were performed periodically for the SN and SP (collectively S) groups. All other patients receiving conization for HG‐CIN during the study period were identified from our hospital database. Those eligible but not enrolled into our study were assigned to the non‐surveillance (non‐S) group. For the S group (n = 493), the median follow‐up period was 74.3 months. Eighty‐four cases had recurrent CIN Grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) (5‐year cumulative rate: 14.8%), of which six had invasive cancer. Among the 84 patients, 65 (77.4%) exhibited type‐specific persistence in the paired HPV results, whereas only 7 (8.3%) harbored new HPV types that belonged to the 9‐valent vaccine types. Among the 7397 non‐S patients, 789 demonstrated recurrent CIN2+, of which 57 had invasive cancer. The stages distribution of those progressed to invasive cancer in the non‐S group were more advanced than the S group (P = .033). Active surveillance might reduce the severity of those progressed to cancer. Because a majority of the patients with recurrent CIN2+ had persistent type‐specific HPV infections, effective therapeutic vaccines are an unmet medical need.

What's new?

High‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (HG‐CIN), a cervical carcinoma precursor, frequently is caused by high‐risk human papillomavirus (hr‐HPV) infection. HG‐CIN can be treated by cervical conization, though the procedure does not eradicate hr‐HPV, potentially enabling CIN recurrence. Here, in Taiwanese patients, investigation of HPV genotype changes in relation to HG‐CIN status after conization shows that 77.4 percent of patients with recurrent CIN 2 grade or worse (CIN2+) after conization had persistent type‐specific HPV infections. Vaccination against the remaining high‐risk HPVs prevented recurrent CIN2+ in only 8.3 percent of patients, revealing an unmet need for effective therapeutic vaccines.

Incomplete excision of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia as a predictor of the risk of recurrent disease-a 16-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Women treated for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (grade 2 or 3) are at elevated risk for developing cervical cancer. Suggested factors identifying women at highest risk for recurrence post-therapeutically include incomplete lesion excision, lesion location, size and severity, older age, treatment modality, and presence of high-risk human papilloma virus after treatment. This question has been intensively investigated over decades, but there is still substantial debate as to which of these factors or combination of factors most accurately predict treatment failure.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we examine the long-term risk of residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia among women previously treated for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 and how this varies according to margin status (considering also location), as well as comorbidity (conditions assumed to interact with high-risk human papilloma virus acquisition and/or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia progression), posttreatment presence of high-risk human papilloma virus, and other factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective study included 991 women with histopathologically confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 who underwent conization in 2000-2007. Information on the primary histopathologic finding, treatment modality, comorbidity, age, and high-risk human papilloma virus status during follow-up, and residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was obtained from the Swedish National Cervical Screening Registry and medical records. Cumulative incidence of residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was plotted on Kaplan-Meier curves, with determinants assessed by Cox regression.

RESULTS

During a median of 10 years and maximum of 16 years of follow-up, 111 patients were diagnosed with residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse. Women with positive/uncertain margins had a higher risk of residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse than women with negative margins, adjusting for potential confounders (hazard ratio, 2.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.81-3.93). The risk of residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse varied by anatomical localization of the margins (endocervical: hazard ratio, 2.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.67-4.41) and both endo- and ectocervical (hazard ratio, 4.98; 95% confidence interval, 2.85-8.71). The risk did not increase significantly when only ectocervical margins were positive or uncertain. The presence of comorbidity (autoimmune disease, human immunodeficiency viral infection, hepatitis B and/or C, malignancy, diabetes, genetic disorder, and/or organ transplant) was also a significant independent predictor of residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse. In women with positive high-risk human papilloma virus findings during follow-up, the hazard ratio of positive/uncertain margins for recurrent/residual high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse increased significantly compared to that in women with positive high-risk human papilloma virus findings but negative margins.

CONCLUSION

Patients with incompletely excised cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 are at increased risk for residual/recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse. Margin status combined with high-risk human papilloma virus results and consideration of comorbidity may increase the accuracy for predicting treatment failure.

Changes in DNA Level of Oncogenic Human Papillomaviruses Other Than Types 16 and 18 in Relation to Risk of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Grades 2 and 3

BACKGROUND

Epidemiologic data addressing clinical relevance of viral load fluctuation of oncogenic types other than human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 are limited.

METHODS

A type-stratified set of infections by non-HPV16/18 oncogenic types that were detected at ≥2 visits was randomly selected from women who were enrolled in a clinical trial and followed every 6 months for 2 years for detection of HPV and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 and 3 (CIN2/3). Type-specific viral load was measured on both first and last HPV-positive cervical swab samples.

RESULTS

CIN2/3 was initially confirmed at the last HPV-positive visit for 67 of 439 infections. The increase in risk of CIN2/3 was associated with high, relative to low, viral load at both first and last positive visits [OR_adjusted = 3.67; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.19-11.32] and marginally associated with a change of viral load from low to high levels (OR_adjusted = 3.15; 95% CI, 0.96-10.35) for infection by species group alpha-9 non-HPV16 oncogenic types but not species group alpha-5-7 non-HPV18 oncogenic types. Among women with an initial diagnosis of CIN2/3 at the first positive visit, CIN2/3 was more frequently redetected at the last positive visit for infections with, compared with without, high DNA load of species group alpha-9 non-HPV16 oncogenic types at both visits (P _exact = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

In agreement with data on baseline viral load, the viral load change-associated risk of CIN2/3 differs by HPV species groups.

IMPACT

These findings underscore the importance of distinguishing species groups in future studies of clinical relevance of HPV DNA load.

Prevention of Cervical Cancer: Guideline of the DGGG and the DKG (S3 Level, AWMF Register Number 015/027OL, December 2017) - Part 2 on Triage, Treatment and Follow-up

Aims Annual opportunistic screening for cervical carcinoma has been done in Germany since 1971. The creation of this S3 guideline meets an important need, outlined in the National Cancer Plan, with regard to screening for cervical cancer, as this guideline aims to provide important information and support for planned organized screening for cervical cancer in Germany. Methods With the financial support of German Cancer Aid, 21 professional societies developed evidence-based statements and recommendations (classified using the GRADE system) for the screening, management and treatment of precancerous conditions of the cervix. Two independent scientific institutes compiled systematic reviews for this guideline. Recommendations The second part of this short summary deals with the triage, treatment and follow-up care of cervical dysplasia. With regard to those women who do not participate in screening, the guideline authors recommend sending out repeat invitation letters or an HPV self-collection kit. Colposcopy should be carried out for further investigation if cytology findings are Pap II-p and HPV test results are positive or if the results of an HPV 16 or HPV 18 screening test are positive. A single abnormal Pap smear should be triaged and investigated using HPV testing or p16/Ki67 dual staining.

Incomplete excision of cervical precancer as a predictor of treatment failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Incomplete excision of cervical precancer is associated with therapeutic failure and is therefore considered as a quality indicator of clinical practice. Conversely, the risk of preterm birth is reported to correlate with size of cervical excision and therefore balancing the risk of adequate treatment with iatrogenic harm is challenging. We reviewed the literature with an aim to reveal whether incomplete excision, reflected by presence of precancerous tissue at the section margins, or post-treatment HPV testing are accurate predictors of treatment failure.

METHODS

We did a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the risk of therapeutic failure associated with the histological status of the margins of the tissue excised to treat cervical precancer. We estimated the accuracy of the margin status to predict occurrence of residual or recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia of grade two or worse (CIN2+) and compared it with post-treatment high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) testing. We searched for published systematic reviews and new references from PubMed-MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL and did also a new search spanning the period Jan 1, 1975, until Feb 1, 2016. Studies were eligible if women underwent treatment by excision of a histologically confirmed CIN2+ lesion, with verification of presence or absence of CIN at the resection margins; were tested by cytology or HPV assay between 3 months and 9 months after treatment; and had subsequent follow-up of at least 18 months post-treatment including histological confirmation of the occurrence of CIN2+. Primary endpoints were the proportion of positive section margins and the occurrence of treatment failure associated with the marginal status, in which treatment failure was defined as occurrence of residual or recurrent CIN2+. Information about positive resection margins and subsequent treatment failure was pooled using procedures for meta-analysis of binomial data and analysed using random-effects models.

FINDINGS

97 studies were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis and included 44 446 women treated for cervical precancer. The proportion of positive margins was 23·1% (95% CI 20·4-25·9) overall and varied by treatment procedure (ranging from 17·8% [12·9-23·2] for laser conisation to 25·9% [22·3-29·6] for large loop excision of the transformation zone) and increased by the severity of the treated lesion. The overall risk of residual or recurrent CIN2+ was 6·6% (95% CI 4·9-8·4) and was increased with positive compared with negative resection margins (relative risk 4·8, 95% CI 3·2-7·2). The pooled sensitivity and specificity to predict residual or recurrent CIN2+ was 55·8% (95% CI 45·8-65·5) and 84·4% (79·5-88·4), respectively, for the margin status, and 91·0% (82·3-95·5) and 83·8% (77·7-88·7), respectively, for high-risk HPV testing. A negative high-risk HPV test post treatment was associated with a risk of CIN2+ of 0·8%, whereas this risk was 3·7% when margins were free.

INTERPRETATION

The risk of residual or recurrent CIN2+ is significantly greater with involved margins on excisional treatment; however, high-risk HPV post-treatment predicts treatment failure more accurately than margin status.

FUNDING

European Federation for Colposcopy and Institut national du Cancer (INCA).

9-Valent human papillomavirus vaccine: a review of the clinical development program

INTRODUCTION

The 9-valent human papillomavirus (9vHPV) vaccine covers the same HPV types (6/11/16/18) as the quadrivalent HPV (qHPV) vaccine and 5 additional cancer-causing types (31/33/45/52/58). Epidemiological studies indicate that the 9vHPV vaccine could prevent approximately 90% of cervical cancers, 70-85% of high-grade cervical dysplasia (precancers), 85-95% of HPV-related vulvar, vaginal, and anal cancers, and 90% of genital warts. Areas covered: Study design features and key findings from the 9vHPV vaccine clinical development program are reviewed. In particular, 9vHPV vaccine efficacy was established in a Phase III study in young women age 16-26 years. Efficacy results in young women were extrapolated to pre- and young adolescent girls and boys and young men by immunological bridging (i.e., demonstration of non-inferior immunogenicity in these groups versus young women). Expert commentary: The development of the 9vHPV vaccine is the outcome of 20 years of continuous clinical research. Broad vaccination programs could help substantially decrease the incidence of HPV-related disease.

Human papillomavirus type-specific persistence and reappearance after successful conization in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between pre- and postoperative high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) genotypes and hrHPV type-specific persistence and reappearance of abnormal cytology after successful conization.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed of 211 patients who were undergoing conization after hrHPV genotype testing at Tottori University Hospital between July 2009 and June 2013. Of the 211 women, 129 underwent pre- and postoperative hrHPV genotype testing and were diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grades 1-3 with negative margins.

RESULTS

The postoperative pathological diagnosis was CIN 1 in 8 patients, CIN 2 in 12, CIN 3 in 108 and adenocarcinoma in situ in 1 patient. Before conization, the most frequent hrHPV genotypes were HPV16 (n = 52; 40.3 %), followed by HPV52 (n = 32; 24.8 %) and HPV58 (n = 28; 21.7 %), while HPV18 was detected in 6 cases (4.7 %). Of the 23 postoperative hrHPV-positive cases, the same genotypes were detected in 10 cases while a different genotype was detected in 11 cases; type did not affect the frequency of persistent postoperative infection. The 3-year cumulative risk for the reappearance of abnormal cytology was significantly higher in postoperative hrHPV-positive patients than in postoperative hrHPV-negative patients (31.6 vs 9.7 %, P = 0.0014). A high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) was observed during the follow-up period in one patient with persistent HPV16 infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative hrHPV infection was a significant positive predictor for the reappearance of abnormal cytology and HPV16 infection-induced HSIL after treatment. Therefore, our study suggests that hrHPV genotype testing may be useful to follow-up CIN patients.

9-Valent HPV vaccine for cancers, pre-cancers and genital warts related to HPV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the causative agent of nearly all cervical cancer cases as well as a substantial proportion of anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile and oropharyngeal cancers, making it responsible for approximately 5% of the global cancer burden. The first-generation HPV vaccines that is, quadrivalent HPV type 6/11/16/18 vaccine and bivalent HPV type 16/18 vaccine were licensed in 2006 and 2007, respectively. A second-generation 9-valent HPV type 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58 vaccine with broader cancer coverage was initiated even before the first vaccines were approved. By preventing HPV infection and disease due to HPV31/33/45/52/58, the 9vHPV vaccine has the potential to increase prevention of cervical cancer from 70 to 90%. In addition, the 9vHPV vaccine has the potential to prevent 85-95% of HPV-related vulvar, vaginal and anal cancers. Overall, the 9vHPV vaccine addresses a significant unmet medical need, although further health economics and implementation research is needed.

Follow-up strategies after treatment (large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ)) for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN): Impact of human papillomavirus (HPV) test

BACKGROUND

Development of cancer of the cervix is a multi-step process as before cervical cancer develops, cervical cells undergo changes and become abnormal. These abnormalities are called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and are associated with increased risk of subsequent invasive cancer of the cervix. Oncogenic high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV), the causative agent of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions, is present in up to one-third of women following large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) treatment and is associated with increased risk of residual disease and disease recurrence. HPV testing may serve as a surveillance tool for identifying women at higher risk of recurrence. High-risk human papillomavirus testing will enable us to identify women at increased risk of residual or recurrent CIN and therefore will allow us to offer closer surveillance and early treatment, when indicated.

OBJECTIVES

• To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of hrHPV testing after large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) treatment• To determine optimal follow-up management strategies following LLETZ treatment according to hrHPV status

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Gynacological Cancer Review Group Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed and PsycINFO up to August 2013. We searched registers of clinical trials, abstracts of scientific meetings and reference lists of included studies, and we contacted experts in the field.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We searched for randomised control trials (RCTs) that compared follow-up management strategies following LLETZ treatment for CIN.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed whether potentially relevant studies met the inclusion criteria. No trials were found; therefore no data were analysed.

MAIN RESULTS

The search identified 813 references on MEDLINE, 418 on EMBASE, 22 on CINAHL, 666 on PubMed, 291 on PsycINFO and 145 on CENTRAL. When all references were imported into EndNote and duplications were removed, 1348 references remained. Initial screening of titles and abstracts of these references revealed that 42 references were potentially eligible for this review. After reading the full-text versions, we identified no relevant trials comparing hrHPV and cytology testing versus cytology testing alone for detecting residual or recurrent disease during follow-up to LLETZ treatment of adult women with CIN.We found no evidence on the effects of hrHPV and cytology testing on residual or recurrent CIN2 or higher lesions, anxiety and psychosexual morbidity outcomes in women undergoing colposcopy and treatment for CIN.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We found no evidence from RCTs to inform decisions about the best surveillance strategy for women following treatment for CIN. A prognostic systematic review is needed to investigate the risk of developing recurrent cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2+ (CIN2+) in women with a positive hrHPV test after large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) treatment.

Topical imiquimod treatment for human papillomavirus infection in patients with and without cervical/vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of topical imiquimod for the treatment of persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in patients with or without cervical/vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN/VAIN).

METHODS

Patients with persistent HPV infection (≥ 1 year) after a history of treatment for cervical or vaginal neoplasm but normal histology and cytology, abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) smears without abnormal histology, and untreated histology-documented CIN/VAIN Grade 1/2/3 with HPV-positive testing were recruited. Patients were instructed to apply 250 mg of 5% imiquimod cream intravaginally on consecutive days or at least twice weekly on an outpatient basis for a minimum of 12 doses. A group of age- and previous diagnosis-matched, imiquimod-untreated historical controls (n = 20) were selected. The main outcome measures included HPV DNA detection, cytology, and colposcopy/histology at 6 months after treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 72 patients were eligible for analysis. At a median follow-up of 33.6 months, 37 patients (51.4%) had cytological/histological regression and tested HPV-negative. Six patients (8.3%) had progressive cytology/histology with persistent HPV infections. Of the 72 treated patients, 26 patients who had a normal Pap test but were persistently HPV-positive for at least 1 year had a complete regression rate of 65.4%, which was significantly different from the rate (30%) observed in the untreated historical control (p = 0.036). Six patients with histologically proven CIN2/3 or VAIN2/3 had a complete regression rate of 66.6% (4/6).

CONCLUSIONS

The tolerability of intravaginal self-administered imiquimod is confirmed. Its efficacy in the treatment of women with persistent HPV infection and normal cytology warrants further randomized, controlled trials to determine appropriate dosages and scheduling.

High-resolution melting molecular signatures for rapid identification of human papillomavirus genotypes

Background

Genotyping of human papillomarvirus (HPV) is crucial for patient management in a clinical setting. This study accesses the combined use of broad-range real-time PCR and high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis for rapid identification of HPV genotypes.

Methods

Genomic DNA sequences of 8 high-risk genotypes (HPV16/18/39/45/52/56/58/68) were subject to bioinformatic analysis to select for appropriate PCR amplicon. Asymmetric broad-range real-time PCR in the presence of HRM dye and two unlabeled probes specific to HPV16 and 18 was employed to generate HRM molecular signatures for HPV genotyping. The method was validated via assessment of 119 clinical HPV isolates.

Results

A DNA fragment within the L1 region was selected as the PCR amplicon ranging from 215–221 bp for different HPV genotypes. Each genotype displayed a distinct HRM molecular signature with minimal inter-assay variability. According to the HRM molecular signatures, HPV genotypes can be determined with one PCR within 3 h from the time of viral DNA isolation. In the validation assay, a 91% accuracy rate was achieved when the genotypes were in the database. Concomitantly, the HRM molecular signatures for additional 6 low-risk genotypes were established.

Conclusions

This assay provides a novel approach for HPV genotyping in a rapid and cost-effective manner.

[Management of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion of the cervix of adult women]

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women worldwide, despite having great potential for prevention and cure when early diagnosed and treated, which can reduce the mortality rate among the affected. Since there is no consensus among the therapeutic measures in high grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSIL), we discuss its approach when dealing with adult women who have HGSIL and the follow-up after the adopted procedure. We performed electronic searches of MEDLINE (through PubMed), National Guidelines Clearinghouse, Google Scholar and Lilacs. The guidelines identified were evaluated according to their validity and recommendations. In relation to after-care, the European use cytology every 6 months, the Australians, cytology and colposcopy every 6 months, the Americans advocate the realization of hybrid capture in six to 12 months or cytology every 6 months. The Brazilian Guidelines Project, on its turn, recommends that clinical reassessments and Pap smear should be performed every three or four months during the first two years of follow-up. Studies comparing the method "See and Treat" with the three steps one (histology, colposcopy, biopsy) concluded that the latter is indicated for women ASCUS/LSIL before undergoing the excision of the transformation zone (ETZ), while the "View and Treat" is indicated in women with proven HGSIL in cytology and suggestive in colposcopy, because it presents advantages such as low cost and immediate solution. All the guidelines are unanimous in stating that when facing proven HGSIL, excision of the injury through ablation or conization or ETZ is indicated.

[The role of human papillomavirus typization and cytology in early detection of relapse of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia]

BACKGROUND/AIM

Female patients who underwent ceratin treatment forms of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) are at five times greater risk for disease relapse in comparison to the rest of female population. The aim of the study was to investigate validity of human papillomavirus (HPV) typization and cytology in detection of relapse. METHODS; The prospective clinical investigation included 35 patients with relapse and 30 ones without it after adequate treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. HPV typization using PCR methods and cytological test (conventional Pap smear) were performed in all the patients. Validation of tests applied was performed by determining their sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value.

RESULTS

More severe degrees of CIN relapse occur significantly more often in patients which remain HPV positive despite of the treatment. The patients which remain positive on HPV type 18 or, on both HPV types 18 and 16, have more often CIN relapses of more severe degree in relation to those just positive on HPV type 16. HPV typization has higher predictive value for diagnosis of the rezidual disease in older patients. Sensitivity of HPV typization for diagnosis all CIN relapse degrees is 68.57%, for more severe degrees (HSIL and MIC) 90.47%, specificity is 93.33%, while positive and negative predictive values are 90.47% and 93.53%, respectively. Sensitivity of cytology for diagnosis of more severe CIN relapses is 80.95%. HPV typization used along with cytology ofters the highest sensitivity (95.23%).

CONCLUSION

Both tests, HPV typization and Pap smear, offer satisfactory sensitivity and high specificity in detection of relapse, parcticularly those with more severe degree. The highest sensitivity in detection of CIN relapse is obtained by using both tests.

Human papillomavirus genotype in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 and 3 of Taiwanese women

We aimed to assess the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in high-grade cervical lesions in Taiwan. The study included 1,086 paraffin-embedded, formaldehyde-fixed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3 specimens. HPV genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods. Multiple HPV types were validated by E6 type-specific PCR, direct sequencing and/or real-time PCR. HPV DNA was detected in 995 (91.6%) specimens, and multiple HPV types were identified in 192 (19.3%) samples. The leading HPV types were HPV16 (24%), HPV52 (20%), HPV58 (20%), HPV33 (13%), HPV31 (8%) and HPV18 (4.6%). Although the leading six types consisted of 87.6%, HPV16 or 18 comprised only 30.9%. The prevalence of different HPV types showed a significant association with age. In women older than 50 yr, HPV16 and 18 comprised 21.3% (83/389), while HPV52, 58 and 33 represented 55.5% (216/389). In women aged less than 50 yr, HPV16 and 18 comprised 32.1% (224/697, p < 0.0001), while HPV 52, 58 and 33 represented 47.9% (334/697, p = 0.02). The distribution of HPV genotypes was compared with previously reported findings for Taiwanese women with cervical cancer (CC). The overall HPV16 positivity rate was significantly higher in CC than in CIN 2/3 (odds ratio: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.91-2.40). In addition, HPV18, 39 and 45 were significantly overrepresented in CC, whereas HPV52, 58, 33, 31, 35, 51 and 53 were underrepresented. We concluded that an effective vaccine against the most common HPV types could prevent a significant proportion of cervical cancer cases that occur in Taiwan.

Comparison of the DiagCor GenoFlow Human Papillomavirus Array Test and Roche Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test

Persistent infection of high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been widely associated with cervical cancer. Monitoring HPV infection is therefore an important step against cervical cancer development. The DiagCor GenoFlow Human Papillomavirus Array Test (GenoFlow) is a novel HPV test based on PCR and "Flow-through" hybridization that can identify 33 HPV subtypes in 3 hours. In the present study, the GenoFlow Test was evaluated by comparing the genotyping results of 100 samples with Roche Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test (LA). The tests showed good agreement in detection of HPV-positive samples (concordance rate=95%, Cohen's Kappa=0.896), with good agreement in detection of HR HPVs (Cohen's Kappa=0.876). The GenoFlow Test showed high sensitivity (95%), high specificity (95%), low false positive rate (3.33%) and low false negative rate (7.50%). In conclusion, the novel GenoFlow Test showed comparable clinical performance to LA test, and offers advantages of reduction in turnaround time and manpower.

Follow-up after treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia by human papillomavirus genotyping

OBJECTIVE

To assess the use of human papillomavirus genotyping in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia posttreatment follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective observational study. Ninety women underwent cytologic testing and human papillomavirus genotyping at the follow-up visit after conization. Cones were retrospectively genotyped. A second cytologic follow-up was performed.

RESULTS

Margin status and presence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3+ in the cone were poor predictors of treatment outcome (sensitivity, < 50%; diagnostic odds ratio, <or= 2.5). Presence of high-/intermediate-risk human papillomavirus types predicted 100% of residual high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion/cervical intraepithelial 2+ at a specificity of 73%. Testing only 13 high-risk types showed equal sensitivity but higher specificity (86%; P < .01). Persistent high-risk human papillomavirus infection (13 types) detected high-grade residual disease with a sensitivity of 60% at a very high specificity (95%), resulting in a positive predictive value of 43%, which exceeded the positive predictive values of all other criteria.

CONCLUSION

Testing for high-risk human papillomavirus identified all recurrent/residual high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Focusing on women with persistent human papillomavirus types through genotyping substantially increased positive predictive value but at a loss in sensitivity.

Prediction of recurrent disease by cytology and HPV testing after treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

OBJECTIVE

To assess the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing and cytology as predictors of residual/recurrent disease after treatment of high-grade cervical intraepithelial lesions.

METHODS

One hundred and thirty-eight women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2/3 lesion on biopsy were included in a prospective follow-up study in Belgium and Nicaragua. All women were treated with loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) and follow-up visits took place at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. During these visits, a Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test was taken, colposcopy was performed and specimens were collected for HPV testing. Cytology, high-risk (HR) HPV presence, persistent HR HPV infection and combinations of these tests at different time points during follow-up were correlated with histologically confirmed residual/recurrent disease.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients (9%) developed residual/recurrent disease during follow-up. Abnormal cytology at 6 weeks after treatment was significantly correlated with residual/recurrent disease. Nine of thirty-seven patients with abnormal cytology at 6 weeks had recurrent disease versus three of seventy with a normal cytology [odds ratio (OR): 7.2; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.8-28.5; P = 0.003). Sensitivity of this test was 75.0%, specificity 70.5%. Combining abnormal cytology and the presence of HR HPV within the first 6 months after treatment gave the best correlation with residual/recurrent disease: of the 54 women with abnormal cytology and/or HR HPV presence within the first 6 months, 11 developed residual/recurrent disease (OR 10.2; 95% CI: 2.2-48.3). Sensitivity of this combination was 84.6% and specificity 65.0%.

CONCLUSION

Cytology remains the cornerstone in the early follow-up after LEEP for CIN lesions of the cervix. HPV testing can add value as it increases the sensitivity of cytology in concomitant testing within the first 6 months.

PCR detection rates of high risk human papillomavirus DNA in paired self-collected urine and cervical scrapes after laser CO2 conization for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

OBJECTIVE

To compare the PCR detection rates of high risk human papillomavirus DNA in self-collected urine and cervical scrapes during follow-up of patients treated for HG-CIN by laser CO2 conization.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

52 women who submitted to laser conization for HG-CIN were enrolled into this prospective follow-up study receiving liquid-based cytology and HR-HPV testing by PCR assay on self-collected urine and cervical scrapes before and at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. Diagnostic accuracy and predictive values for treatment failure were evaluated for both urinary and cervical HPV testing and follow-up cytology.

RESULTS

3 cases (5.8%) of recurrent HG-CIN occurred during follow-up. Positive margins and HR-HPV persistence resulted to significant risk factors for recurrence (p=0.01). The overall concordance on HR-HPV detection between paired urine and cervical samples was 96.6% and discord trend between agreement rates during follow-up were excluded by overall fixed-effect index (OR 1.03; 95% CI 0.62-1.70). No difference was observed comparing the three- and six-month cumulative sensitivity and NPV for recurrent disease of urinary and cervical HPV detections, with an increase of 5.6% in specificity associated with urinary testing.

CONCLUSIONS

PCR detection of HR-HPV in paired urine and cervical samples during follow-up revealed an excellent concordance, suggesting a potential equivalent role of the two methods within post-treatment follow-up. In our experience HPV testing on self-collected urine was more sensitive than cytology and more specific than cervical HPV detection to predict treatment failure. Larger studies are needed to definitively establish the role of urine-based HPV testing during follow-up.

The association of pre-conization high-risk HPV load and the persistence of HPV infection and persistence/recurrence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after conization

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the pre-conization high-risk human papilloma virus (HR-HPV) load is predictive for the persistence of HR-HPV infection and the persistence/recurrence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) after conization of the cervix.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review was performed on 236 women who underwent conization due to CIN at the Center for Uterine Cancer, National Cancer Center, Korea, between March 2001 and March 2006. The samples for pre-conization HR-HPV test were obtained at least within 3 weeks before conization. All patients underwent HR-HPV testing and cytology between 3 and 6 months after conization, and subsequent follow-up of 3- to 6-month interval was performed thereafter. The persistence of HR-HPV infection and persistence/recurrence of histologic abnormality after conization were analyzed by age, parity, menopausal status, method of conization, glandular extension, margin status, severity of CIN, and pre-cone HR-HPV load in univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

In univariate analysis, high pre-cone HR-HPV load was the only risk factor for the persistence of HR-HPV infection after conization (persistent HR-HPV infection; 19.8% [23/116] of patients with an HR-HPV load > or = 100 RLU/PC vs. 10.0% [12/120] of patients with a load < 100 RLU/PC, P=0.034). Multivariate analysis showed that an HR-HPV load > or = 100 RLU/PC was a risk factor for persistence/recurrence of histological abnormalities after conization (P=0.040, OR=5.748, 95% CI=1.082-30.526).

CONCLUSION

Patients with a pre-conization HR-HPV load > or = 100 RLU/PC had a higher rate of persistent HR-HPV infection and a higher rate of persistent/recurrent histological abnormalities after conization for CIN compared to patients with a load < 100 RLU/PC.

Persistence of human papillomavirus as a predictor for treatment failure after loop electrosurgical excision procedure

We aimed to investigate whether postconization human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing can predict treatment failure and improve the accuracy of conventional follow-up in women with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Between March 2001 and October 2005, 120 patients with confirmed CIN 2 or 3 were treated with loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) and were enrolled. Six patients were lost to the follow-up. Postconization follow-up was performed at every 3–6 months during the first year and then annually. Specimens were tested for the presence of HPV, using the Hybrid Capture 2 (Digene Co, Gaithersburg, MD) and HPV DNA chip (Mygene Co, Seoul, Korea) test. Persistent HPV infection was defined as persistently (two times or more) positive HPV tests with the same HPV subtype(s) at initial diagnosis. Twenty-two (19.3%) patients showed treatment failure after conization. The only significant risk factor for redevelopment of CIN after conization was persistence of the same HPV subtype (P< 0.0001). And women with recurrent or residual CIN had higher HPV load during the 6-month follow-up postconization. In conclusion, the persistence of the same HPV subtype after LEEP conization was an important predictor of treatment failure. The follow-up protocol after conization of CIN should include both cervical cytology and HPV test, and HPV DNA chip test is needed to detect a persistent HPV infection.

The expression of p16 (INK4a) and Ki-67 in relation to high-risk human papilloma viral load and residual disease after conization with positive margins

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations between high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) load and p16 (INK4a) or Ki-67, and to identify biomarkers that may predict residual disease after conization with positive margins. The following samples were analyzed: 49 paraffin-embedded specimens from patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), including 12 CIN 2 conization specimens and 37 CIN 3 conization specimens. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed with antibodies to p16 (INK4a) and Ki-67. Hybrid Capture II testing was used to detect high-risk HPV DNA. The mean HPV loads within each of the p16 (INK4a)-staining cases were 9.5 (relative light units/positive control) RLU/PC for negative staining, 531.8 RLU/PC for 1+ staining, 140.2 RLU/PC for 2+ staining, and 545.1 RLU/PC for 3+ staining. HPV loads differed significantly according to p16 (INK4a) expression (P = 0.0021). The mean HPV loads within Ki-67 staining cases were 28.2 RLU/PC for 1+ staining, 189.6 RLU/PC for 2+ staining, and 563.3 RLU/PC for 3+ staining. HPV loads differed significantly according to Ki-67 expression (P = 0.0259). The expression of p16 (INK4a) (P = 0.0012) and Ki-67 (P = 0.0006) were significantly associated with the CIN grade. In univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis, age, parity, cytology, lesion grade in the cone, high-risk HPV load, and the expression of p16 (INK4a) and Ki-67 were not significantly associated with residual lesions after conization with positive margins (P > 0.05). In conclusion, high-risk HPV load showed significant differences according to the expression of p16 (INK4a) and Ki-67, while none of the prognostic factors were significantly associated with residual disease after conization with positive margins.

High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (CIN 2 and 3) excised with negative margins by loop electrosurgical excision procedure: the significance of CIN 1 at the margins of excision

The significance of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 or 3 (CIN 2-3) at the margin of a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) specimen as a predictor of recurrent or persistent disease is relatively controversial. Most studies have found the presence of high-grade dysplasia at the margins in this setting to be an adverse parameter. However, the significance of an isolated finding of CIN 1 at the surgical margins of LEEP specimens has not been rigorously studied. Herein, we evaluate the significance of finding CIN 1 at one or more margins of a LEEP specimen when these margins are negative for CIN 2-3. Consecutive LEEP specimens with a CIN 2-3 diagnosis (and whose margins were negative for the latter) were retrieved, and their slides were reviewed. The cases were classified as to whether CIN 1 was present at the margins. Follow-up cytologic and histologic data were compared between patients with and without CIN 1 at the margin. For patients with multiple follow-up samples, only the most severe abnormality (1 sample per patient) was counted. Seventy-three cases were evaluated, with CIN 1 present at the margin in 59 (81%, group 1) and absent in 14 (19%, group 2). Follow-up cytologic information was available in 60 patients, with a median follow-up of 19 months. The cytologic follow-up of groups 1 and 2 patients were not significantly different regarding the diagnostic frequency of any one of the Bethesda 2001 diagnostic categories (P > .05 for all, Fisher exact and chi(2) tests). Of the 33 patients who received a cervical biopsy and/or endocervical curettage during the follow-up period, 29 belonged to group 1 and 4 to group 2. The distribution of "negative" CIN 1 and CIN 2-3 diagnoses for group 1 were 16 (55%) of 29, 7 (24%) of 29, and 6 (21%) of 29, respectively. Parallel figures for group 2 were 2 (50%) of 4, 2 (50%) of 4, and 0 (0%) of 4, respectively. Although CIN 2-3 was more frequent in group 1, none of the comparisons attained statistical significance. The current study is a small single-institution study, whose findings should not be extrapolated to cold-knife conizations, and need to be confirmed in larger data sets. However, our preliminary analysis suggests that the isolated presence of CIN 1 at the margin of a LEEP specimen, whose margins are otherwise negative, lacks adverse prognostic significance.

Evaluation of combined general primer-mediated PCR sequencing and type-specific PCR strategies for determination of human papillomavirus genotypes in cervical cell specimens

A strategy combining human papillomavirus general primer (mainly the PGMY primers)-directed PCR sequencing and type-specific PCR is presented. DNA samples were first tested in general primer-mediated PCR. The amplified fragments of positive samples after ethidium bromide-stained DNA gel analysis were further sequenced, and corresponding DNA samples were further analyzed by PCR using type-specific primers for human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16, 18, 31, and 52. The comparison of the results of 157 samples analyzed by this strategy in parallel with the Hybrid Capture 2 tests and with the HPV INNO-LiPA (Innogenetics line probe assay) shows that this method is suitable for HPV detection and genotyping in cervical cell samples. Although the PCR sequencing method is as sensitive as the HPV INNO-LiPA for HPV detection, our method allows the identification of a broader range of HPV types. In contrast, the HPV INNO-LiPA was less time-consuming and better identified coinfections.

Agreement between the AMPLICOR Human Papillomavirus Test and the Hybrid Capture 2 assay in detection of high-risk human papillomavirus and diagnosis of biopsy-confirmed high-grade cervical disease

The AMPLICOR HPV test (AMP) and the Hybrid Capture 2 assay (HC2) detect 13 high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) types. Evaluation of comparative performance with clinical samples is needed to allow informed implementation of AMP into clinical practice. AMP was used (i) to assess the prevalence of HR-HPV in 1,032 samples of known cytology, HC2 status, and/or confirmed histology; (ii) to determine agreement between AMP and HC2; (iii) to evaluate the clinical sensitivity and specificity for detecting HR-HPV; and (iv) to detect the presence of biopsy-confirmed high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The prevalence of HR-HPV was 39.3% and 45.6% by AMP and HC2, respectively. Overall agreement was 89.2% (kappa value, 0.78). Of 509 HR-HPV-negative specimens by HC2, 488 (95.9%) were AMP negative. Of 427 HR-HPV-positive specimens by HC2, 347 (81.2%) were AMP positive. In comparing the ability to detect high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), the two tests were positive for all HSIL samples. Both tests performed similarly on CIN2+ samples (clinical sensitivities were 96.7% and 97.8%, respectively, for AMP and HC2). The clinical specificities of AMP and HC2 were comparable (54.9% versus 51.6%; P=0.18). Genotyping of 20 HC2-negative/AMP-positive cases using alternative technologies revealed target HR genotypes in 63.1% of cases and low-risk types in 15.7% of cases, while 21% of cases were negative. In conclusion, AMP provides a viable alternative to HC2, with good agreement for samples with high-grade cytology and similar sensitivity in detecting CIN2+ lesions.

Pre- and post-conization high-risk HPV testing predicts residual/recurrent disease in patients treated for CIN 2–3

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) detection and viral load prior to treatment and status of cone margins can predict residual/recurrent disease as well as the ability of current diagnostic tools to identify residual/recurrent disease during follow-up of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) treated by conization using loop electrosurgical procedure (LEEP).

METHODS

Two hundred and three women (mean age 38.6 +/- 9.7; range 22-83) with CIN2-3 treated by LEEP conization and confirmed in the surgical specimen, attending follow-up visits were included. Age, HR-HPV detection and viral load determined by HybridCapture 2, and cone margins were evaluated as possible predictors of residual/recurrent disease. Value of single and repeated cytology as well as HR-HPV detection and viral load during follow-up were analyzed as screening tools of recurrence.

RESULTS

Residual/recurrent disease was demonstrated by colposcopy guided biopsy in 36 patients (17.7%). High HR-HPV load (>1000 RLU) prior to LEEP and positive cone margins were significantly associated with higher risk of recurrence (31.8% vs. 9.4%, P = 0.005; and 36.4% vs. 11.9%, P < 0.001 respectively). HR-HPV detection at 6-12 m after LEEP showed higher sensitivity than a single or repeated cytology (97.2% vs. 83.3% and 94.4% respectively) although it showed less specificity (81.4% vs. 92.2% and 82.6%). The combination of HR-HPV detection and the first cytology during follow-up detected all patients with residual/recurrent disease (sensitivity 100%, negative predictive value 100%) with an acceptable specificity (76.6%).

CONCLUSION

The inclusion of HR-HPV testing with cytology in follow-up of patients treated for CIN2-3 would allow for fewer post-treatment visits and avoid unnecessary cytologies. High HR-HPV load prior to LEEP or positive margins should be considered as risk factors for developing residual/recurrent disease.

Longitudinal study of patients after surgical treatment for cervical lesions: detection of HPV DNA and prevalence of HPV-specific antibodies

The principal aims of this study were to test whether persistence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA is predictive of recurrent disease in women after surgical treatment for cervical lesions, to distinguish between persistent and newly acquired HPV infection, and to observe the effect of surgical treatment on levels of HPV-specific antibodies. A group of 198 patients surgically treated for low-grade and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and 35 age-matched controls were monitored for 18 months at 6-month intervals. The presence of HPV DNA in cervical smears was detected by means of consensus polymerase chain reaction, and serum levels of HPV-specific antibodies to HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, and 45 were measured. In ten patients positive for HPV type 16 in consecutive samples, the HPV 16 variants were identified using a polymerase chain reaction specific for the long control region. Data regarding demographics, risk factors for cervical cancer, and risks related to HPV exposure were collected through a patient questionnaire. Subjects persistently positive for HPV DNA were more likely to present with cytological and/or colposcopical abnormalities. A higher reactivity to HPV-specific antibodies was observed in these women at the 18-month follow-up visit. All ten patients with HPV 16 infection detected in consecutive samples showed persistence of either the same prototype or the same variant during the follow-up period. Risky sexual behavior and smoking were more common in patients than in controls. Persistent HPV infection as demonstrated by both HPV DNA detection and antibody detection appears to be a risk factor for the recurrence of pathological findings in women after surgery. An individually based approach to surgical treatment is an important factor in the outcome of disease at follow-up.

The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase-2, and cyclooxygenase-2 in relation to human papilloma viral load and persistence of human papillomavirus after conization with negative margins

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations between human papillomavirus (HPV) load and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and to identify biomarkers that may predict high-risk HPV clearance or persistence after conization with negative margins. The following samples were analyzed: 77 paraffin-embedded specimens from patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), including 27 CIN 2 conization specimens and 50 CIN 3 conization specimens. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed with antibodies to VEGF, EGFR, MMP-2, and COX-2. Hybrid capture II testing was used to detect HPV DNA. VEGF expression was significantly associated with HPV load (ρ = 0.27186,P= 0.0191), while COX-2 expression was significantly and inversely associated with HPV load (ρ =−0.34309,P= 0.0028). In univariate analysis, HPV load (P= 0.0112) and VEGF expression (P= 0.0274) were significantly associated with high-risk HPV clearance or persistence after conization with negative margins. In multiple regression analysis, high viral load (relative light unit/positive control > 500) and positive VEGF expression were significantly associated with high-risk HPV persistence after conization with negative margins (odds ratio [OR]: 9.915, CI: 1.891–51.994; OR: 6.661, CI: 1.208–36.722, respectively). In conclusion, VEGF expression is related to HPV load, while COX-2 expression is inversely related to HPV load, and immunohistochemical analysis of VEGF expression and HPV viral load are a significant and an independent prognostic indicator of high-risk HPV persistence after conization with negative margins.

Maintenance of CD8 effector T cells by CD4 helper T cells eradicates growing tumors and promotes long-term tumor immunity

Human papillomavirus, particularly type 16 (HPV-16), is present in more than 99% of cervical cancers, and oncogenic HPV infection is one of the most important etiologies. It is now clear that CD4(+) T cells play an important role in controlling HPV-associated lesions because immunocompromised patients have a higher frequency of HPV-associated lesions. In the current study, we characterized the significance of CD4(+) T cells in the generation of E7-specific CD8(+) T cell immune responses in mice vaccinated with SINrep5-E7/HSP70 and boosted with vac-E7/HSP70. In addition, we characterized the contribution of CD4(+) T cells to the long-term antitumor effects. We found that vaccination with CD4 depletion significantly reduced the number of E7-specific CD8(+) T cells in mice. Furthermore, CD4(+) T cells are important for the long-term anti-tumor effects generated by vaccination with SINrep5-E7/HSP70 and booster with vac-E7/HSP70. Thus, CD4 T cells clearly have an important role in successful tumor immunity and maintenance of long-term tumor antigen-specific memory responses in vaccinated mice with established tumors.

Comparison between the Hybrid Capture II Test and an SPF1/GP6+ PCR-based assay for detection of human papillomavirus DNA in cervical swab samples

We compared the efficacy of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA detection between a PCR-based genechip (Easychip HPV Blot [hereafter referred to as HPV Blot]; King Car, Taiwan) method and Hybrid Capture II (HCII; Digene, Gaithersburg, MD) in women with previous normal (n = 146) or abnormal (> or =atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance [ASCUS] [n = 208]) cytology. A total of 354 cervical swab samples were collected for HPV DNA assay by both HCII and SPF1/GP6+ PCR followed by HPV Blot tests. Colposcopy-directed biopsy was performed if clinically indicated. Of the 354 samples, HPV-positive rates by these two methods (HCII and HPV Blot) were 12.6% and 18.2% in 143 normal samples, 36.2% and 45.7% in 105 ASCUS samples, 57.4% and 57.4% in 94 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion samples, and 83.3% and 75.0% in 12 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion samples, respectively. The concordance of HPV Blot and HCII was 80.8% (286/354), and the agreement between the methods (kappa value, 0.68) was substantial. Discrepancies were further investigated by at least one of the following three methods: direct sequencing, type-specific PCR, and HPV Blot genotyping of cervical biopsy tissue. In the 15 HCII-positive samples, HPV Blot detected only non-HCII HPV genotypes; results of further verification methods were consistent with the latter test in the 15 samples. Of the 20 samples with HCII-negative and HPV Blot-positive results, 18 were found to contain the 13 HCII high-risk genotypes by verification methods. In only 16.7% (3/18) of the HCII-positive but HPV Blot-negative samples, further studies detected the 13 HCII genotypes. We conclude that HPV Blot seemed comparable to HCII for detection of HPV DNA in cervical swab samples.

Persistent HPV infection after conization in patients with negative margins

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the rate of clearance of high-risk HPV after conization with negative margins and to identify the factors that may predict high-risk HPV clearance/persistence after conization with negative margins.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of 69 patients (mean age 39.5 years, range 25-60 years) with histologically verified CIN 2 or CIN 3 who underwent electroknife conization with negative margins between March 2002 and December 2003. High-risk HPV testing was performed on cervical cytology prior to and 6 months after conization. Hybrid Capture II testing was used to detect HPV DNA.

RESULTS

High-risk HPVs were detected in the primary cervical lesions of 67 of 69 patients (97.1%) prior to conization. Follow-up at 6 months revealed that high-risk HPVs were eradicated by conization in 82.1%. Univariate analysis showed that persistent HPV infection after conization with negative margins was more likely to occur when the pretreatment viral load was high (RLU/PC > 500) (P = 0.005). HPV infection after conization with negative margins was persistent in 43.8% (7/16) of patients with high viral load (RLU/PC > 500) and in 9.8% (5/51) of patients with low viral load (RLU/PC < or = 500). Multiple regression analysis showed that high viral load (RLU/PC > 500) was the only significant independent predictor of HPV persistence (P = 0.0027).

CONCLUSIONS

High-risk HPV infections were effectively eliminated by conization with negative margins in most cases. Because high viral loads are significantly associated with high-risk HPV persistence after conization with negative margins, patients with high viral loads prior to conization should be closely followed.

Human papillomavirus-type persistence patterns predict the clinical outcome of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

BACKGROUND

Persistent infection with high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes is required for the development of cervical carcinoma, and integration of HPV testing into cervical screening programs is under investigation. For the clinical value of HPV testing to be fully established, genotyping studies are needed to identify HR HPV persistence in samples of known cytology and histology, and to determine the relationship with clinical outcome. To date, methods for genotyping have been research-based, and subject to variation. The availability of the Roche prototype line blot assay (LBA) offers a PCR-based, reproducible genotyping method, with a 37-type target spectrum and many potential applications.

METHODS

We applied the LBA to determine persistence of HR HPV in 54 women with low-grade histology. Median interval between genotyping was 12.5 months (range 5-48).

RESULTS

All 15 lesions that progressed to CIN3 (PD) were associated with HR HPV persistence. Regression of lesions (REM) was observed in 31 HPV+ women, of whom nine had clearance of existing HPV infections, with one patient then acquiring additional types. Eight HPV+ patients had no change in lesions observed (NC). Persistence of HPV type 16 was more common in the PD group (60%), compared with the REM group (27%) and the NC group (38%).

CONCLUSION

Our results show that the LBA is a useful tool to identify HPV persistence patterns under anonymized conditions, with potential for research and clinical studies.

Management of cervical premalignant lesions

Management of cervical preneoplasia starts with an abnormal smear result. The use of the Bethesda system is recommended. The management of patients with low-grade abnormal smear results varies around the world. Patients with atypical squamous cells on cytology are recommended to be subclassified into atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) and atypical squamous cells where high-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions (HSIL) cannot be excluded (ASCH) groups. While patients with ASCUS can be followed with cytology or colposcopy, the risk of having cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) is higher in patients with ASCH. Such patients, as well as those with low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions on cytology, should be referred for colposcopy to ensure that diagnosis and treatment in CIN is detected. Patients with HSIL should be referred promptly for colposcopic assessment. This should, usually at the same clinic visit, be followed by large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ). Although this is effective treatment, around 15% of patients will have persistent/recurrent disease on cytological follow-up. Patients with positive human papillomavirus DNA tests at follow-up seem to have a considerably higher risk of recurrent preneoplasia than those who have negative tests. Patients over 50 years of age have much higher recurrence risks than younger patients. These factors impact on second-line treatment and follow-up schedules. An important benefit of conservative treatment for CIN with LLETZ is retention of fertility. LLETZ is associated with an increased risk of preterm prelabour rupture of membranes and preterm birth, but not with other adverse pregnancy outcome measures. Conservative excisional management of adenocarcinoma in situ by LLETZ or cold knife cone biopsy is not reported to be as effective as that of CIN, with high risk of residual and recurrent disease at follow-up. Conversely, LLETZ may be acceptable treatment for micro-invasive squamous carcinoma if the excision margins are free of disease and there is no evidence of lymphovascular involvement. The ability to detect and treat premalignant lesions on the cervix reversed the natural history of cervical cancer. Methods of conservative treatment that evolved over decades have been proven safe and effective, allowing retention of fertility. Good clinical guidelines have been developed for most clinical scenarios while some uncertainties persist for other scenarios.

Genomic imbalances in 70 snap-frozen cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions: associations with lesion grade, state of the HPV16 E2 gene and clinical outcome

Host genomic abnormalities may determine the natural history of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs). We undertook comparative genomic hybridisation analysis of epithelium carefully microdissected from 70 cervical SILs, the largest series to date. In contrast to previous studies, we used frozen sections for optimal DNA quality and examined whether patterns of DNA copy number imbalance (CNI) are characteristic of SIL grade, human papillomavirus (HPV) status and postoperative recurrence. We identified more CNIs in cervical SIL than previously described, with more CNIs per case in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HG-SIL) than in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LG-SIL) (P=0.04). While some CNIs were seen at similar frequencies in HG-SIL and LG-SIL, others, including gain on 1q, 3q and 16q, were found frequently in HG-SIL but not in LG-SIL. There were significantly more CNIs per case in HG-SILs showing loss of the HPV16 E2 gene (a repressor of viral oncogene transcription) (P=0.026) and in HG-SILs that subsequently recurred (P=0.04). Our data are consistent with sequential acquisition of CNIs in cervical SIL progression. Higher frequency of CNI in association with E2 gene loss supports in vitro evidence that high-risk HPV integration is associated with genomic instability. Further investigation of the clinical value of specific host genomic abnormalities in cervical SIL is warranted.