The prevalence of HR-HPV DNA in ASC-US Pap smears: A military population study

A Scoping Review of Cervical Cancer Risk Factors, Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment in U.S. Active Duty Military Women

INTRODUCTION

Maintaining military readiness requires integration and delivery of appropriate sex-specific health care services for active duty servicewomen (ADSW). Cervical cancer screening (CCS) provides early detection, intervention, and treatment, allowing for reductions in human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and cervical cancer cases. This scoping review examines existing cervical cancer evidence related to ADSW and identifies research gaps, leverage points, and policy recommendations within the context of the social ecological model for military women's health.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping literature search using both indexed databases and nonindexed sources. We managed retrieved records from 2000 to 2018 with Endnote reference and DistillerSR systematic review software.

RESULTS

Of 1,006 records from indexed databases and 208 records from nonindexed resources retrieved, 40 publications met the inclusion criteria. Cervical cancer research addressing ADSW is limited. Servicewomen have high rates of known cancer risk factors and face challenges related to deployments and change of duty station that affect continuity of health care and timely follow-up for abnormal CCS. Multimodal interventions with stakeholder support can encourage CCS adherence and increase HPV vaccination rates.

CONCLUSION

Maintaining military readiness among ADSW requires robust evidence-based prevention efforts to address risk factors that are reportedly higher among servicewomen, as well as challenges to continuity in health care delivery that may increase the likelihood of cervical cancer incidence. Recognizing the role of HPV vaccination as cancer prevention, collaborations and partnerships, research, best practices, and creative solutions to close ADSW's sex-specific health gaps will help to ensure a fit and ready force.

Impact of Deployment on Reproductive Health in U.S. Active-Duty Servicewomen and Veterans

Reproductive-age women are a fast-growing component of active-duty military personnel who experience deployment and combat more frequently than previous service-era women Veterans. With the expansion of the number of women and their roles, the United States Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have prioritized development and integration of reproductive services into their health systems. Thus, understanding associations between deployments or combat exposures and short- or long-term adverse reproductive health outcomes is imperative for policy and programmatic development. Servicewomen and women Veterans may access reproductive services across civilian and military or Veteran systems and providers, increasing the need for awareness and communication regarding deployment experiences with a broad array of providers. An example is the high prevalence of military sexual trauma reported by women Veterans and the associated mental health diagnoses that may lead to a lifetime of high risk-coping behaviors that increase reproductive health risks, such as sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancies, and others. Care coordination models that integrate reproductive healthcare needs, especially during vulnerable times such as at the time of military separation and in the immediate postdeployment phase, may identify risk factors for early intervention with the potential to mitigate lifelong risks.

Performance of Different Combination Models of High-Risk HPV Genotyping in Triaging Chinese Women With Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different combination models of high-risk human papilloma viruses (HPV) genotyping in triaging Chinese women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS). Methods: We established a screening cohort of 3,997 Chinese women who underwent cervical cytology and HPV genotyping test. Women with ASCUS cytology underwent punch biopsy under colposcopy/endocervical curettage. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of different combination models of HR-HPV genotyping calculated that cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or higher (CIN2+) on histology were endpoints. Results: Of the full sample, 393 women had ASCUS. Among ASCUS women with a CIN2 lesion, the prevalence for HPV were 40.0% (type 16), 10.0% (type 18), 0.0% (type 33), 30.0% (type 52), 40.0% (type 58), and 30.0% (other nine types). For ASCUS women with a CIN3 lesion, the prevalence for HPV were 68.4% (type 16), 15.8% (type 18), 10.5% (type 33), 31.6% (type 52), 15.8% (type 58), and 36.8% (other nine types). Combination model including HPV16/18/33/52/58 for predicting CIN2+ lesion in women with ASCUS had relatively higher sensitivity [93.1% (78.0, 98.1)], specificity [75.8% (71.2, 79.9)], PPV [23.5% (16.7, 32.0)], and NPV [99.3% (97.4, 99.8)] than other combination models. Moreover, the referral rate of HPV16/18/33/52/58 (29.3%) was lower than HR-HPV (36.1%). Conclusions: The study demonstrates that specific HR-HPV types HPV16/18/33/52/58 may be an effective strategy in ASCUS triage. This improves the subsequent selection of ASCUS patients.

Improving the performance of reflex Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) testing in triaging women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS): A restrospective study in a tertiary hospital in United Arab Emirates (UAE)

INTRODUCTION

Cervical cancer is the second commonest cancer in women worldwide. Infection with oncogenic types of human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most important risk factor for developing cervical cancer. Reflex High risk HPV (HR-HPV) testing is of significant value in the assessment of Papanicolaou (Pap) smear results where ASCUS are identified.

OBJECTIVE

To improve the performance of reflex HR-HPV testing in triage of ASCUS and analyze the factors impacting it.

METHODOLOGY

In this study, we generated a database of 9641 women who had cervical smears collected during the study period from the cytopathology record in a large tertiary hospital in UAE. These included 297 smears with ASCUS diagnosis. All cases were retrospectively followed up with a mean duration of 2.44 years. We analyzed data according to the outcome based on several follow-up Pap smear analysis as the reference assessment.

RESULTS

We detected HR-HPV infection in 17.9% of cases. 9.1% <25, 28.8% 25-34 and 62.1% ≥35 years old. HR-HPV prevalence was higher among premenopausal women (20.7%) compared to postmenopausal women (9.5%) (P-value=0.044). The rate of progression to high grade lesions was also higher (28.7%) in the premenopausal group compared to (12.8%) in the postmenopausal group. Reflex HPV testing had an overall sensitivity of 41.1%, specificity of 88.2%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 62.1%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 75.9% in detection of cervical lesions. These figures were higher on combining premenopausal status and complaint of abnormal bleeding or discharge/itching (66.7%, 93.3%, 66.8% and 93.3% respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The sensitivity, specificity and NPV of reflex HPV testing in the triage of ASCUS cases can be more accurate in premenopausal women upon adding age group and presenting complaint as a triage item. This improves the performance of reflex HPV testing and the subsequent selection of high risk patients for colposcopy.

High risk HPV testing in the triage of repeat ASC-US and LSIL

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the real-life performance of high-risk (HR) HPV testing in the triage of repeat atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In 2004-2012, 127 women with repeat ASC-US and 118 women with LSIL were triaged with HPV testing using either a Hybrid Capture 2(®) or Abbott RealTime(®) HR-HPV test. The patient charts were retrospectively reviewed for performance of the tests.

RESULTS

In the repeat ASC-US group, 40.9% of the women were positive for HR-HPV. The prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) was 8.7%. The sensitivity of the HR-HPV testing for detection of CIN2+ was 90.9% (95% Cl 58.7-98.5%), with a specificity of 63.8% (95%CI 54.4-72.5%). In women ≥30 years old, the specificity was 70.4%, whereas in younger women it was only 27.8%. The negative predictive value to predict CIN3 was 100% (95% CI 95.2-100.0%). Of the women with LSIL, 68.6% were positive for HR-HPV and the prevalence of CIN2+ was 14.4%. The sensitivity of HR-HPV testing for detection of CIN2+ was 94.1% (95% CI 71.2-99.0%), and the specificity 35.6% (95% CI 26.4-45.8%), respectively. The negative predictive value to predict CIN3 was 100% (95% CI 90.4-100.0%).

CONCLUSION

HR-HPV testing seems to be beneficial in the triage of repeat ASC-US in women ≥30 years old, but a high prevalence of HR-HPV infection combined with poor specificity limit the use of HPV testing in the case of LSIL.

The utility of high-risk HPV testing in the management of women 30 to 64 years of age with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions on cervical cytology

INTRODUCTION

The current American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology guidelines recommend high risk-human papillomavirus testing for patients 30 to 64 years of age with a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion on Papanicolaou (Pap) tests. This study presents our experience since the introduction of the new guidelines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From September 1, 2013 through August 31, 2014, 20,014 ThinPrep Pap tests were processed, of which 17,989 (90%) were negative, 863 (4.3%) were atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), and 540 (2.7%) were low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL). Thirty-eight percent of the negative cases, 87% of the ASCUS cases, and 76% of the LSIL cases were processed for high risk-human papillomavirus genotypes. Of the 1,163 patients with a Pap test diagnosis of ASCUS and LSIL, 656 (56%) underwent colposcopic examination and, of those, 240 (37%) had cervical biopsies performed.

RESULTS

In our cohort, 247 (33%) of the 754 ASCUS Pap tests were hr-HPV-positive and 507 (67%) were hr-HPV-negative. Of the 409 LSIL Pap tests, 245 (60%) were hr-HPV-positive and 164 (40%) were hr-HPV-negative. Colposcopy/biopsy follow-up within 3-months of the ThinPrep Pap test showed cervical intraepithelial lesion grade 2/3 lesions in 16% of the hr-HPV-positive ASCUS cases, in 15% of the hr-HPV-positive LSIL cases and in 9% of the hr-HPV-negative LSIL cases.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports the current management guidelines of colposcopy for women 30 to 64 years of age with hr-HPV-positive ASCUS and LSIL on Pap tests and repeat Pap test with cotesting for women with hr-HPV-negative LSIL.

High-risk behavior and sexually transmitted infections among U.S. active duty servicewomen and veterans

The number of women who are active duty service members or veterans of the U.S. military is increasing. Studies among young, unmarried, active duty servicewomen who are sexually active indicate a high prevalence of risky sexual behaviors, including inconsistent condom use, multiple sexual partners, and binge drinking, that lead to unintended and unsafe sex. These high-risk sexual practices likely contribute to chlamydia infection rates that are higher than the rates in the U.S. general population. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical dysplasia may also be higher among young, active duty servicewomen. Little is known about the sexual practices and rates of sexually transmitted infections among older servicewomen and women veterans; however, women veterans with a history of sexual assault may be at high risk for HPV infection and cervical dysplasia. To address the reproductive health needs of military women, investigations into the prevalence of unsafe sexual behaviors and consequent infection among older servicewomen and women veterans are needed. Direct comparison of military and civilian women is needed to determine if servicewomen are a truly high-risk group. Additionally, subgroups of military women at greatest risk for these adverse reproductive health outcomes need to be identified.

p16(INK4a) is superior to high-risk human papillomavirus testing in cervical cytology for the prediction of underlying high-grade dysplasia

BACKGROUND

The primary goal of this study was to compare the clinical performance of an optimized and rigorously controlled immunocytochemical (ICC) assay for p16(INK4a) to high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as diagnostic adjuncts for cytology specimens from colposcopy patients.

METHODS

: The study included 403 cervical cytology specimens collected within 3 months of colposcopy. The colposcopic impression and cervical biopsy diagnosis served as the standards for correlation with cytological, p16(INK4a), and HPV data. p16(INK4a) was evaluated using an immunoperoxidase-based assay that was linear over 4 logs for the detection of HeLa-spiked positive control cytology specimens, using a threshold for positive test results that was based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. HR-HPV was detected by multiplex PCR using genotype-specific primers.

RESULTS

: In all combined diagnostic categories (negative for intraepithelial lesion and malignancy, atypical glandular cells, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, atypical squamous cells cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion), the p16(INK4a) ICC and HR-HPV assays, respectively, had sensitivity of 81.7% and 83.3% (P = .81) and specificity of 78.1% and 50.9% (P < .001) for the detection of underlying > or =grade 2 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) lesions on biopsy. Furthermore, the positive predictive value of p16(INK4a) ICC was greater than that of HR-HPV for patients with biopsies > or =CIN-2 (41.2% and 24.2%, respectively, P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

: This p16(INK4a) immunocytochemical assay has superior specificity but similar sensitivity to HR-HPV testing to predict underlying high-grade dysplastic lesions in patients who are referred for colposcopy. The determination of the overall performance characteristics of p16(INK4a) immunocytochemistry, as an independent test or in combination with HPV testing in low-risk screening populations, however, will require subsequent large-scale prospective clinical trials.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in women attending a gynecology/oncology clinic in Qatar

Aim: Human papillomavirus (HPV) detection is very important for the evaluation of prevention strategies in cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of high-risk HPV infection in a cohort of Qatari residents, and correlate this with cytology and potential risk factors. Method: The study utilized cervical cytology and HPV DNA testing methods, high-risk screen real-time PCR, to detect high-risk HPV genotype infections in a sample of Qatar’s female population. A series of 95 women attending the Gynecology/Oncology Clinic at Hamad Medical Corporation between August 2007 and May 2008 were enrolled in the study. Cervical smears isolated from patients were subjected to real-time PCR to confirm the presence of HPV DNA. The smears were characterized as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS); low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LGSIL) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSIL). As a secondary outcome, risk factors for HPV infection were also assessed. However, the samples were not case-controlled for these. Results: A total of 28 women had normal smears and 65 had abnormal smears. Among the 65 women in the study population with abnormal smears, 33 had ASCUS (18 of them were HPV DNA positive), 21 had LGSIL (18 were HPV DNA positive), eight had HGSIL (four were HPV DNA positive) and the remaining three had squamous cell carcinoma (two were HPV DNA positive). Conclusion: The overall prevalence of high-risk HPV in our study population (n = 95) was 64%. The relatively high prevalence of HPV 52, 56 and 16 among the study group has important implications in vaccine prophylaxis in Qatar.

Type-specific prevalence and persistence of human papillomavirus in women in the United States who are referred for typing as a component of cervical cancer screening

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to report type-specific prevalence and persistence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in women who underwent cytologic screening.

STUDY DESIGN

We examined HPV prevalence in 73,371 women who had type-specific HPV testing in 1 of 23 clinical laboratories in the United States. Persistence was evaluated in 963 women who were tested within 8-16 months of their index test.

RESULTS

HPV was detected in 31% of the women, and high-risk HPV was detected in 23% of the women. HPV-16, -53, -52, and -31 were the most prevalent types. Of the 953 women with 2 tests, 39% of the women had persistent HPV infection. High-risk HPV persistence was detected in 34% of the women who were positive initially for high-risk HPV.

CONCLUSION

Approximately one-third of our sample had HPV; of those women who were retested within 8-16 months, more than one-third had persistent infection. Among women with high-risk HPV infections, the likelihood of persistence was highest with HPV genotypes that were phylogenetically similar to HPV-16.

Adjunctive human papillomavirus DNA testing is a useful option in some clinical settings for disease risk assessment and triage of females with ASC-H Papanicolaou test results

CONTEXT

Recent guidelines recommend colposcopy for women with atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H). objective: To determine whether adjunctive high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing is useful for disease risk assessment in females with ASC-H Papanicolaou (Pap) test results.

DESIGN

High-risk HPV prevalence and histopathologic follow-up data on 1187 females with ASC-H ThinPrep Pap test (TPPT) and hrHPV test results were analyzed.

RESULTS

ASC-H was reported in 1646 (0.59%) [corrected] of 277 400 (270 338 TPPT and 7062 conventional) Pap test results. The difference in ASC-H detection rates between TPPTs and conventional Pap smears was statistically significant (0.60% vs 0.38%; P = .02). High-risk HPV was detected in 589 (49.6%) of 1187 females with ASC-H TPPT and hrHPV testing. The hrHPV DNA-positive rate in females younger than 40 years was 54.7%, significantly higher than the 36.5% in women 40 years and older. Among 505 females with histopathologic follow-up, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 was identified in 32.7% of hrHPV-positive females compared with 1.2% in hrHPV-negative females. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of ASC-H cytology in conjunction with hrHPV DNA testing results for detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 were 96.1% versus 100.0%, 54.0% versus 68.4%, 35.8% versus 20.8%, and 98.1% versus 100.0% in females younger than 40 years and women 40 years and older, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that reflex hrHPV testing is a highly useful option for women with ASC-H Pap tests. Females with ASC-H and negative hrHPV testing may be more efficiently managed by follow-up with regular Pap and hrHPV testing rather than universal colposcopy, especially for women 40 years and older.

Longitudinal cytological follow-up of patients with a papanicolaou test interpretation of "atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance" that was followed by a negative reflex test for high-risk human papillomavirus types

The 2001 consensus guidelines essentially equated the follow-up management of patients with a Papanicolaou (Pap) test interpretation of negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy and those with an interpretation of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) that was followed by a negative reflex test for high-risk human papillomavirus (HR HPV) types: follow-up cytology in 12 months. As several years have elapsed since these guidelines attained some measure of widespread implementation, we sought to determine whether, in routinely diagnosed cases, the full spectrum of follow-up cytological findings are indeed identical in these 2 groups. Clinical and pathological data of consecutive patients with a Pap test interpretation of ASC-US during a 6-week period (n = 587), in which reflex human papillomavirus testing was performed (n = 497) and in which HR HPV types were not detected (n = 300), were reviewed (study group). A randomly selected control group of 300 patients whose Pap tests were reported as negative (negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy) during the same period were similarly reviewed. The follow-up Pap tests were classified into the various Bethesda 2001 diagnostic categories, and both groups were compared. The average follow-up duration in the study and control groups was 26.03 and 25.9 months, respectively. When all of the follow-up Pap tests in each group (study, n = 555; control, n = 356) were used for the comparisons, patients in the study group were significantly more likely to have an abnormal follow-up Pap test result than the control group patients (24.9% vs 7.6%, P < 0.0001); this was primarily attributable to the more frequent repeat interpretations of ASC-US in the former group (20.5% vs 5.1%, P < 0.0001). The HR HPV detection rates in the follow-up ASC-US cases were not significantly different between the study and control groups. There were no significant differences between both groups regarding the diagnostic frequencies of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HGSIL). No examples of HGSIL or invasive cancer were identified in the follow-up of either group. All comparisons of statistical significance retained their significance when only 1 follow-up Pap test per patient, the most severe interpretation, was used. Our findings suggest that some significant differences exist between these 2 groups, most notably the comparatively increased frequency of repeat ASC-US interpretations in the study group. However, the extraordinary rarity of the most clinically significant interpretations of HGSIL and carcinoma in this setting can be confirmed because no such cases were identified during the follow-up of either group.

Modeling human papillomavirus and cervical cancer in the United States for analyses of screening and vaccination

Background

To provide quantitative insight into current U.S. policy choices for cervical cancer prevention, we developed a model of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer, explicitly incorporating uncertainty about the natural history of disease.

Methods

We developed a stochastic microsimulation of cervical cancer that distinguishes different HPV types by their incidence, clearance, persistence, and progression. Input parameter sets were sampled randomly from uniform distributions, and simulations undertaken with each set. Through systematic reviews and formal data synthesis, we established multiple epidemiologic targets for model calibration, including age-specific prevalence of HPV by type, age-specific prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), HPV type distribution within CIN and cancer, and age-specific cancer incidence. For each set of sampled input parameters, likelihood-based goodness-of-fit (GOF) scores were computed based on comparisons between model-predicted outcomes and calibration targets. Using 50 randomly resampled, good-fitting parameter sets, we assessed the external consistency and face validity of the model, comparing predicted screening outcomes to independent data. To illustrate the advantage of this approach in reflecting parameter uncertainty, we used the 50 sets to project the distribution of health outcomes in U.S. women under different cervical cancer prevention strategies.

Results

Approximately 200 good-fitting parameter sets were identified from 1,000,000 simulated sets. Modeled screening outcomes were externally consistent with results from multiple independent data sources. Based on 50 good-fitting parameter sets, the expected reductions in lifetime risk of cancer with annual or biennial screening were 76% (range across 50 sets: 69–82%) and 69% (60–77%), respectively. The reduction from vaccination alone was 75%, although it ranged from 60% to 88%, reflecting considerable parameter uncertainty about the natural history of type-specific HPV infection. The uncertainty surrounding the model-predicted reduction in cervical cancer incidence narrowed substantially when vaccination was combined with every-5-year screening, with a mean reduction of 89% and range of 83% to 95%.

Conclusion

We demonstrate an approach to parameterization, calibration and performance evaluation for a U.S. cervical cancer microsimulation model intended to provide qualitative and quantitative inputs into decisions that must be taken before long-term data on vaccination outcomes become available. This approach allows for a rigorous and comprehensive description of policy-relevant uncertainty about health outcomes under alternative cancer prevention strategies. The model provides a tool that can accommodate new information, and can be modified as needed, to iteratively assess the expected benefits, costs, and cost-effectiveness of different policies in the U.S.

ASC-US and high-risk HPV testing: performance in daily clinical practice

Data are beginning to accrue on high-risk HPV DNA testing in patients with ASC-US on cervical cytology. We report on our experience at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. From February 2002 through December 31, 2005 (3 yr, 11 mo), the cytopathology laboratory processed 49,599 Pap Tests, of which 1,792 (3.6%) were diagnosed as ASC-US. Six hundred and seventy two (37.5%) of these cases were processed for high-risk HPV genotypes using the Digene Hybrid Capture II method. Of these cases, 266 (39.6%) were positive for high-risk HPV genotypes, 11 (1.6%) were equivocal, and 395 (58.8%) were negative. Biopsy follow-up was available for 127 (47.7%) of the 266 cases, of which 66 (52%) were negative, 46 (36.2%) showed CIN I, 9 (7.1%) were CIN II, and 6 (4.7%) were CIN III. Of the remaining 139 (52.3%) cases, 86 (62%) had follow-up Pap Tests, of which 57 (66.3%) were negative, 15 (17.4%) were ASC-US, 12 (15%) were low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and 2 (2.3%) were high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions; 53 (38.1%) were lost to follow-up. In combination, 90 (42.25%) of the 213 cases with follow-up showed atypia or above after a diagnosis of ASC-US; of which 58 (64%) were low-grade lesions and 17 (19%) were high-grade lesions. Our laboratory's reported high-risk HPV positivity is comparable to recent reports in the literature on its use in daily clinical practice. In addition, cervical abnormalities were found in a significant proportion of the cases.