Human Papillomavirus Testing Following Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure Identifies Women at Risk for Posttreatment Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Grade 2 or 3 Disease

Post-Conization HPV Vaccination and Its Impact on Viral Status: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Troms and Finnmark, 2022

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with cellular changes in the cervix leading to cancer, which highlights the importance of vaccination in preventing HPV infections and subsequent cellular changes. Women undergoing the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), a treatment for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+), remain at risk of recurrence. This study assessed the effect of post-conization HPV vaccination on the viral status of women at six months post-conization, aiming to evaluate the vaccine's effectiveness in preventing recurrence of CIN2+. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among women in Troms and Finnmark who underwent conization in 2022. Using the SymPathy database and the national vaccination register (SYSVAK), we analyzed the vaccination statuses and HPV test results of women born before 1991, who had not received the HPV vaccine prior to conization. Out of 419 women undergoing conization, 243 met the inclusion criteria. A significant association was found between post-conization HPV vaccination and a negative HPV test at six months of follow-up (ARR = 12.1%, p = 0.039). Post-conization HPV vaccination significantly reduced the risk of a positive HPV test at the first follow-up, suggesting its potential in preventing the recurrence of high-grade cellular changes. However, the retrospective design and the insufficient control of confounding variables in this study underscore the need for further studies to confirm these findings.

A study on the correlation between the prognosis of HPV infection and lesion recurrence after cervical conization

Introduction

Persistent human papillomavirus infection is an important factor in the development of cervical cancer, which is usually a long process evolving from the development of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL), also referred to as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Local treatment of advanced squamous intraepithelial lesions, also regarded as High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion, may be effective in preventing cancer.

Objective

To promptly identify high-risk patients with a tendency to recurrence.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 300 patients with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from 2019 to 2020 to investigate the relationship between recurrence of cervical lesions and postoperative regression of HPV infection, as well as other related risk factors.

Results

We found that the HPV-negative rates were 81.81, 85.71, and 90.91% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively, and the average lesion recurrence rate was 8.16%, with a median time to recurrence of 14 months in patients undergoing CKC for HSIL. The risk of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions was highest in patients with HPV16. Patients over 61 years of age had the lowest postoperative HPV-negative rate. The conversion rate was significantly lower in patients with multiple HPV genotypes than in those with single HPV infection (p < 0.05). The probability of recurrence was higher in patients with the same HPV infection genotype before and after surgery than in patients with different infection genotypes before and after surgery (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Combined with the literature review, we believe that patients aged ≥50 years, with ≥3 pregnancies and births, a history of smoking, and consistent genotypes of preoperative and postoperative HPV infection in cervical conization have more HPV re-infection or persistent infection, and that these factors may be high-risk factors for lesion recurrence. For patients with possible potential high-risk factors, we need to carry out individualized follow-up and focused management, take timely and effective management measures, optimize the treatment plan, reduce the recurrence rate, prevent HSIL and cervical cancer, improve the quality of patient's survival, and improve the prognosis.

Adenovirus Encoding Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha and Interleukin 2 Induces a Tertiary Lymphoid Structure Signature in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Refractory Head and Neck Cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have provided significant improvement in clinical outcomes for some patients with solid tumors. However, for patients with head and neck cancer, the response rate to ICI monotherapy remains low, leading to the exploration of combinatorial treatment strategies. In this preclinical study, we use an oncolytic adenovirus (Ad5/3) encoding hTNFα and hIL-2 and non-replicate adenoviruses (Ad5) encoding mTNFα and mIL-2 with ICI to achieve superior tumor growth control and improved survival outcomes. The in vitro effect of Ad5/3-E2F-D24-hTNFa-IRES-hIL-2 was characterized through analyses of virus replication, transgene expression and lytic activity using head and neck cancer patient derived cell lines. Mouse models of ICI naïve and refractory oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma were established to evaluate the local and systemic anti-tumor immune response upon ICI treatment with or without the non-replicative adenovirus encoding mTNFα and mIL-2. We delineated the mechanism of action by measuring the metabolic activity and effector function of CD3+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and transcriptomic profile of the CD45+ tumor immune compartment. Ad5/3-E2F-D24-hTNFa-IRES-hIL-2 demonstrated robust replicative capability in vitro across all head and neck cell lines screened through potent lytic activity, E1a and transgene expression. In vivo, in both ICI naïve and refractory models, we observed improvement to tumor growth control and long-term survival when combining anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 with the non-replicative adenovirus encoding mTNFα and mIL-2 compared to monotherapies. This observation was verified by striking CD3+ TIL derived mGranzyme b and interferon gamma production complemented by increased T cell bioenergetics. Notably, interrogation of the tumor immune transcriptome revealed the upregulation of a gene signature distinctive of tertiary lymphoid structure formation upon treatment of murine anti-PD-L1 refractory tumors with non-replicative adenovirus encoding mTNFα and mIL-2. In addition, we detected an increase in anti-tumor antibody production and expansion of the memory T cell compartment in the secondary lymphoid organs. In summary, a non-replicative adenovirus encoding mTNFα and mIL-2 potentiates ICI therapy, demonstrated by improved tumor growth control and survival in head and neck tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, the data reveals a potential approach for inducing tertiary lymphoid structure formation. Altogether our results support the clinical potential of combining this adenovirotherapy with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1.

Clearance of HR-HPV within one year after focused ultrasound or loop electrosurgical excision procedure in patients with HSIL under 30

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clearance rate of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) in patients with a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) 12 months after focused ultrasound (FUS) or loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), and analyze the influencing factors.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort was established in HSIL patients with HR-HPV infection treated with FUS or LEEP from 2015 to 2019. The cohort consisted of 321 patients under 30 years of age, of which 119 patients received FUS and 202 patients received LEEP. The Cox regression model was used to identify the influencing factors for HR-HPV clearance. Kaplan-Meier method was applied to estimate the efficacy of FUS and LEEP in HR-HPV clearance, and the log-rank test was used to compare the efficacy difference between FUS and LEEP.

RESULTS

Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that both FUS and LEEP were independent influencing factors for HR-HPV clearance. HR-HPV cleared faster in the FUS group than in the LEEP group [the median time to HR-HPV clearance: 6 months in the FUS group (95% CI: 5.492-6.508) and 6 months in the LEEP group (95% CI: 5.734-6.266), p = 0.021]. The HR-HPV clearance rates at 6 and 12 months were 54.6% and 94.1% respectively in the FUS group, and 50.5% and 79. 2%, respectively in the LEEP group (p = 0.001 at 6 months, p = 0.000 at 12 months).

CONCLUSIONS

For HPV-positive HSIL patients under 30, FUS had a better HR-HPV clearance effect than LEEP 1 year after treatment. FUS may be a viable modality for the treatment of young HSIL patients.

Human Papillomavirus Persistence and Association With Recurrent Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia After Cryotherapy vs Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure Among HIV-Positive Women: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Persistence of cervical high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or higher (CIN2+) has not been compared between cryotherapy and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) among HIV-positive women.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether cryotherapy or LEEP is more effective at clearing hrHPV and whether persistent hrHPV is associated with CIN2+ recurrence among HIV-positive women.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This is a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial conducted among women with HIV, hrHPV, and CIN2+ in Nairobi, Kenya. From June 2011 to September 2016, 354 HIV-positive women with CIN2+ disease had hrHPV cervical samples collected before and after treatment with cryotherapy or LEEP. Data were analyzed from September 2018 to January 2021.

INTERVENTIONS

Women were randomized 1:1 to receive cryotherapy or LEEP and were followed up every 6 months for 24 months with hrHPV cervical swab and Papanicolaou test with confirmatory biopsy.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The main outcomes of this analysis were hrHPV positivity defined as having 1 of 12 hrHPV types (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59) and disease recurrence defined as CIN grade 2 or higher as determined with cervical biopsy.

RESULTS

A total of 354 HIV-positive women with CIN2+ were included in the study; mean (SD) age was 37 (8) years in the cryotherapy arm and 38 (9) years in the LEEP arm. Baseline hrHPV prevalence was 90% (160 of 177) in the cryotherapy arm and 94% (166 of 177) in the LEEP arm (P = .24), and the most common hrHPV types detected were 16 (87 of 326 [27%]), 58 (87 of 326 [27%]), 35 (86 of 326 [26%]), 52 (66 of 326 [20%]), and 18 (56 of 325 [17%]). Over 24 months, clearance of hrHPV was significantly higher among those who underwent LEEP compared with cryotherapy (hazard ratio, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.03-1.90; P = .03). In multivariable analysis, hrHPV type-specific persistence at 12-month follow-up was significantly associated with CIN2+ recurrence from 12 months to 24 months (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.70; 95% CI, 2.47-8.95; P < .001). Performance of hrHPV testing at 12 months for recurrent CIN2+ was 93% sensitivity, 46% specificity, 38% positive predictive value, and 95% negative predictive value.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, HIV-positive women who received LEEP were more likely to clear hrHPV infection compared with those undergoing cryotherapy, reinforcing the efficacy of LEEP in this population. Persistent hrHPV was significantly associated with recurrent CIN2+, suggesting that LEEP's benefits may be related in part to its ability to clear hrHPV infection. Screening for hrHPV infection after treatment among HIV-positive women may be used to rule out recurrent CIN disease given its high sensitivity and negative predictive value.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01298596.

Human papillomavirus genotyping predicts residual/recurrent disease after local treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia better than viral DNA testing

AIM

Type-specific persistent infection (TSPI) of human papillomavirus (HPV) is reportedly associated with a high risk of residual/recurrent disease after local treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). This study aimed to evaluate whether HPV genotyping is more accurate in detecting residual/recurrent disease than HPV DNA testing and identify which HPV genotype can predict a high risk of residual/recurrent disease.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patient outcomes and results of HPV DNA testing and genotyping at 6-12 months after local treatment for CIN2/3 for 439 women. We investigated residual/recurrent disease occurrence according to the TSPI and new infections. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV, respectively) of the two testing methods for predicting residual/recurrent diseases were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Eighty-five (19.4%) patients were positive for HPV DNA testing after treatment, of which 74 (87.1%) had TSPI. Residual/recurrent disease was identified in 34 (7.7%) patients, of which 30 were positive for HPV DNA testing and had TSPI of HPV16, 18, 31, 33, 52, and 58 (six HPV genotypes). The sensitivity and NPV of HPV DNA testing and TSPI were equal at 88.2% and 98.9%, respectively. The specificity and PPV of TSPI were higher than those of HPV DNA testing (89.1% vs. 86.4%, 40.5% vs. 35.2%, respectively). Furthermore, the TSPI of the six HPV genotypes further improved specificity (90.6%) and PPV (44.1%) with the same sensitivity and NPV.

CONCLUSION

HPV genotyping is more useful than HPV DNA testing for determining TSPI, especially of the six HPV genotypes.

Good performance of p16/Ki-67 dual-stain cytology for detection and post-treatment surveillance of high-grade CIN/VAIN in a prospective, cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The limited sensitivity of Papanicolaou (Pap) cytology and the low specificity of HPV testing in detecting cervical or vaginal lesions means that either precancers are missed or women without lesions are overtreated. To improve performance outcomes, p16/Ki-67 dual-stain cytology has been introduced as a useful biomarker.

METHODS

A prospective, cross-sectional study was performed and included 599 patients. Clinical performance estimates of Pap cytology, HPV DNA assay, and p16/Ki-67 dual-stain cytology for the detection of CIN2+/VAIN2+ were determined and compared.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity of p16/Ki-67 dual-stain cytology in detecting histology proven CIN2+/VAIN2+ was 91.6% and 95.0%, respectively, while that of Pap cytology was 42.1% and 95.2%, respectively, and that of HPV DNA testing was 100% and 41.6%, respectively. Among the three tests, the AUC of p16/Ki-67 immunocytochemistry was the largest, both for detecting cervical lesions and vaginal lesions, at 0.932 and 0.966, respectively. Among women who were HPV 16/18 positive or 12-other hrHPV positive and Pap positive (≥ASCUS), dual staining reduced the number of unnecessary colposcopy referrals from 274 to 181. Among the women who were 12-other hrHPV positive and Pap negative, dual staining could prevent underdiagnosis in six patients with CIN2+/VAIN2+ when used as a triage marker. Dual staining also identified four women with high-grade lesions detected by diagnostic conization but with negative colposcopy-guided biopsy results.

CONCLUSION

p16/Ki-67 dual staining may be a promising tool for predicting high-grade cervical and vaginal lesions.

Evaluation of PCR-Reverse Dot Blot Human Papillomavirus Genotyping Test in Predicting Residual/Recurrent CIN 2+ in Posttreatment Patients in China

Objective

To assess the clinical value of the PCR-reverse dot blot human papillomavirus genotyping test during follow-up of patients with CIN grade 2 or worse (CIN 2+).

Methods

Four hundred patients with CIN 2+ receiving treatment from January 2008 to January 2017 were included in our study. Postoperative follow-up procedures comprised HPV examination and cervical cytology every 3–6 months for the first 2 years and then followed up every 6–12 months. A pathology examination was performed when there was a positive funding for HPV 16/18 or an abnormal ThinPrep cytology test (TCT) with or without positive for HR-HPV according to the American Society for Coloscopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) guidelines.

Results

The median follow-up period was 27.10±12.47 months (ranging from 3 to 50 months). During follow-up, 12.00% (48/400) of the women developed residual/recurrent disease. The highest risk in CIN 2+ and CIN 3+ residual/recurrence was HPV-16/-18 (hazard ratio (HR)=12.898, 95% CI= 6.849–24.289; HR= 20.726, 95% CI= 9.64–44.562, respectively). Among the different follow-up methods, type-specific (TP) HR-HPV persistent infection showed the highest cumulative incidence risk (CIR) (84.62%, 95% CI=73.29–95.94) and HR (5.38, 95% CI= 2.596–11.149) during the 4-year follow-up period. At the CIN 2+ and CIN 3+ endpoints, TP-HPV testing had relatively high sensitivity (84.62%, 95% CI=73.29–95.94 and 89.28%, 95% CI= 77.83–100.00, respectively) and specificity (78.07%, 95% CI= 72.70–83.44 and 75.73%, 95% CI= 70.30–81.17, respectively). However, at the CIN 2+/CIN 3+ endpoint, TCT follow-up had a sensitivity of 60.42%/62.16% (95% CI=46.58–72.25/46.54–77.79) and specificity of 90.18%/88.72% (95% CI=86.95–93.41/85.35–92.10).

Conclusion

TP HR-HPV follow-up can provide a reliable and sensitive clinical reference for CIN 2+ postoperative patients.

HPV16 persistent infection and recurrent disease after LEEP

Background

About 23% of patients develop CIN2+ after LEEP treatment due to residual or recurrent lesions. The majority of patients with HPV infection were HPV negative before treatment, but 16,4% were still HPV 16 positive after treatment, indicating that conization do not necessarily clear HPV infection rapidly. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the possible correlation existing between the appearance of recurring high-grade lesions and the viral genotype 16, and other risk factors such as residual disease.

Methods

One hundred eighty-two HPV positive patients underwent LEEP for CIN2+. The follow-up post treatment was carried out every 6 months. Abnormal results during follow-up were confirmed histologically and considered recurrent high-grade intraepithelial cervical lesions (CIN2/CIN3 or CIS).

Statistical analysis was performed by using the SPSS software package for Windows (version 15.0, SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Descriptive statistics are expressed as frequency, arithmetic mean, standard deviation (S.D.) and percentages. We calculated significance (P < 0.5) with the Easy Fischer Test. We calculated the Odds Ratio (OR) of women with peristent HPV 16 infection and positive margin, to have a recurrence.

Results

In our study, the rate of persistent infection from HPV 16, after LEEP, was 15.9% (29/182) with 94% (17/18) of the recurring disease occurring within 18 months of follow up. From this study it was found that the persistence of genotype 16 is associated with a greater rate of relapse post-conization of CIN 2+ lesions, with respect to other genotypes. Our study further supports those studies that demonstrate that the risk for residual disease or relapse is not to be overlooked, also when the margins are negative, but persistent HPV infection is present. In our case study, 40% of relapses were in women with negative margin, but with persistent HPV 16 infection. Even more so, the margins involved in HPV16 positive subjects is another prediction factor for relapse.

Conclusions

Our results show the importance of genotyping and that persistent HPV 16 infection should be considered a risk factor for the development of residual/recurrent CIN 2/3.

Risk of Cervical Dysplasia After Colposcopy Care and Risk-Informed Return to Population-Based Screening: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examined the risk of cervical dysplasia among women who have undergone a colposcopy episode of care to inform their return to population-based cervical screening. PubMed, Embase, and grey literature were searched between January 2000 and 2018. One reviewer screened citations against pre-defined eligibility criteria. A second reviewer verified 10% and 100% of exclusions at title and abstract and at full-text screening, respectively. One reviewer extracted data and assessed methodological quality of included articles; a second reviewer verified these in full. The primary outcome was incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or greater (CIN2+) subsequent to initial colposcopy evaluation. Secondary outcomes included incidence of CIN2+ after negative follow-up test results and performance of follow-up strategies. Results were synthesized narratively. A total of 48 studies were included. The 1- to 5-year CIN2+ risks after colposcopy evaluation ranged from 2.4% to 16.5% among women treated for CIN2+ and from 0.7% to 16.8% among women untreated for CIN grade 1 or less (≤CIN1). Follow-up strategies included single or repeat cytology, human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, or combined HPV/cytology co-testing at various intervals. After negative follow-up test results, risk varied by follow-up strategy for both groups and by referral cytology severity for untreated women. Performance of follow-up strategies varied among treated women. Among untreated women, co-testing demonstrated greater sensitivity than cytology alone. In conclusion, women treated during colposcopy for CIN2+ and women with ≤CIN1 who were referred to colposcopy for low-grade cytology and who did not receive treatment may be able to return to population-based screening after negative co-testing results. Current evidence does not suggest that women untreated for ≤CIN1 who are referred for high-grade cytology be returned to screening at an average risk interval. The optimal strategy for colposcopy discharge needs ongoing evaluation as implementation of HPV testing evolves.

Anal Cancer Precursor Lesions in HIV-Infected Persons: Tissue Human Papillomavirus Type Distribution and Impact on Treatment Response

BACKGROUND

Data on tissue distribution of human papillomavirus types in anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions are limited and the impact on treatment outcomes poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate potential predictors of treatment failure after electrocautery ablation, including human papillomavirus type(s) isolated from index lesions.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study.

SETTINGS

The study was conducted at a tertiary academic referral center in New York City.

PATIENTS

Seventy-nine HIV-infected patients with a diagnosis of anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions between January 2009 and December 2012 were included, and genomic DNA was extracted from biopsy tissue.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The prevalence of human papillomavirus types in index lesions and surveillance biopsies after electrocautery ablation were analyzed to evaluate treatment response.

RESULTS

Of 79 anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, 71 (90%) tested positive for ≥1 human papillomavirus type; 8 (10%) had no human papillomavirus detected. The most common type was 16 (39%), followed by 33 (15%). Human papillomavirus type 18 was seen in 3%. Sixty-one patients (77%) underwent electrocautery ablation and had subsequent surveillance biopsies. Surveillance biopsies yielded benign findings or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in 31 (51%) of 61 and recurrent high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in 30 (49%) of 61 patients (mean follow-up: 35 mo). Ablation response did not differ significantly based on baseline demographics, smoking history, history of anogenital warts, mean CD4 T-cell count, antiretroviral-therapy use, and HIV viral load (<50 copies/mL). The recurrence of high-grade lesions was not significantly associated with high-risk human papillomavirus types detected in index lesions.

LIMITATIONS

Human papillomavirus genotyping in surveillance biopsies was not performed.

CONCLUSIONS

Anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in HIV-infected patients contain a wide range of human papillomavirus types, and individual lesions commonly harbor multiple types concomitantly. Recurrence of anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions after electrocautery ablation occurs frequently and is not affected by high-risk human papillomavirus types. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A833.

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.

Indication of prophylactic vaccines as a tool for secondary prevention in HPV-linked disease

PURPOSE

To determine whether quadrivalent HPV vaccination is effective in reducing recurrent disease in women with a previous history of HPV disease.

METHODS

All women under 45 years of age treated for HPV-linked disease and with negative HPV test, cytology and colposcopy 3 months after treatment were enrolled. Women were randomly assigned into two groups: a group that received HPV vaccine post treatment and a group that was only submitted to follow-up. Follow-up was performed every 6 months for a duration of at least 3 years. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to estimate the overall disease-free survival during the follow-up period. Statistical analysis was performed by Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

From November 2013 to October 2014, we enrolled a total of 178 women at Careggi University Hospital in Florence and at Azienda USL in Massa Carrara. 12 out of 89 patients in the non-vaccination group recurred (13.5%), while 3 out of 89 patients in the vaccination group recurred (3.4%). The Kaplan-Meier curves showed a statistically difference in the log rank test (p = 0.0147) for the overall disease-free survival in the study groups during follow-up. The rate of recurrence was significantly higher in the non-vaccination group, with a p = 0.0279 by Fisher exact test.

CONCLUSION

The introduction of anti-HPV vaccination during the follow-up post treatment for HPV-linked disease is recommended to reduce the risk of recurrence. The clinical implication of this could be very important to influence post-treatment management of HPV disease.

Age-Structured Population Modeling of HPV-related Cervical Cancer in Texas and US

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cervical cancer is a major public health threat to women, with >10,000 new cases diagnosed annually in the United States between 2008 and 2012. Since HPV vaccines can protect against ~80% of HPV-associated cervical cancers, the economic and epidemiological impacts of HPV vaccination have been extensively investigated, particularly at the national level. However, vaccination policies are state-specific, and state-level models are required for state-specific policy decisions. This study adapted an age-structured population model to describe the dynamics of HPV-related cervical cancer in Texas, with model parameters calibrated for Texas. The Year 2000 parameter set was the start point, and the model's predictions from 2001-2010 were well matched with the real incidence numbers in 23 age groups, suggesting the validity of the model. Application of the model to the Year 2010 parameter set predicted that, over the next 10 decades, incidence would decrease rapidly within the first decade and more slowly thereafter. Sensitivity analysis determined the impact of selected parameters (e.g., vaccine coverage rate) on future disease incidence. When compared with the US parameter sets, the Texas population was more sensitive to changes in HPV transmission and vaccination (e.g., ~8% difference in the predicted disease decline).

HPV-testing versus HPV-cytology co-testing to predict the outcome after conization

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing alone as a prognostic tool to predict recurrent disease within a three-year follow-up period after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)2⁺ .

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospectively, 128 women with histologically verified CIN2⁺ who had a conization performed at Southern Jutland Hospital in Denmark between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2013 were included. Histology, cytology and HPV test results were obtained for a three-year follow-up period.

RESULTS

4.7% (6/128) of the cases developed recurrent disease during follow-up. Of the cases without free margins, recurrent dysplasia was detected normal in 10.4% (5/48), whereas in the group with free margins it was 1.3% (1/80). The post-conization HPV test was negative in 67.2% (86/128) and Pap smear normal in 93.7% (120/128). Combining resection margins, cytology and HPV had sensitivity for prediction of recurrent dysplasia of 100%. Specificity was 45.8%, positive predictive value (PPV) 8.5% and negative predictive value (NPV) 100%. Using HPV test alone as a predictor of recurrent dysplasia gave a sensitivity of 83.3%, specificity 69.7%, PPV 11.9% and NPV 98.8%. Combining resection margin and HPV test had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity 45.9%, PPV 8.3% and NPV 100%.

CONCLUSION

HPV test at six months control post-conization gave an NPV of 98.8% and can be used as a solitary test to identify women at risk for recurrent disease three years after treatment for precursor lesions. Using both resection margin and HPV test had a sensitivity of 100% and NPV 100%. Adding cytology did not increase the predictive value.

Targeted immunotherapy of high-grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia: Expectations from clinical trials

Targeted immunotherapy of high-grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) has been developed as an alternative to conization, to preserve future reproductive outcomes and avoid human papillomavirus (HPV) persistence. The objectives of the review are to present drugs according to their process of development and to examine their potential future use. A search for key words associated with CIN and targeted immunotherapy was carried out in the Cochrane library, Pubmed, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov from 1990 to 2016. Publications (randomized, prospective and retrospective studies) in any language were eligible for inclusion, as well as ongoing trials registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov website. Targeted immunotherapy includes peptide/protein-based vaccines, nucleic acid-based vaccines (DNA), and live vector-based vaccines (bacterial or viral). A total of 18 vaccines were identified for treatment of CIN at various stages of development, and the majority were well-tolerated. Adverse effects were primarily injection site reactions and flu-like symptoms under grade 2. The efficacy of vaccines defined by regression of CIN2/3 to no CIN or CIN1 ranged from 17 to 59% following a minimum of a 12-week follow-up. In the majority of studies, there was no association demonstrated between histological response and HPV clearance, or between histological or virological response and immune T cell response. Given that the spontaneous regression of CIN2/3 is 20-25% at 6 months, targeted immunotherapy occurs an additional value, which never reaches 50%, with one trial an exception to this. However, research and development on HPV eradication drugs needs to be encouraged, due to HPV-associated disease burden.

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).

Clinical and Immunologic Biomarkers for Histologic Regression of High-Grade Cervical Dysplasia and Clearance of HPV16 and HPV18 after Immunotherapy

Purpose: As previously reported, treatment of high-grade cervical dysplasia with VGX-3100 resulted in complete histopathologic regression (CR) concomitant with elimination of HPV16/18 infection in 40.0% of VGX-3100-treated patients compared with only 14.3% in placebo recipients in a randomized phase IIb study. Here, we identify clinical and immunologic characteristics that either predicted or correlated with therapeutic benefit from VGX-3100 to identify parameters that might guide clinical decision-making for this disease.Experimental Design: We analyzed samples taken from cervical swabs, whole blood, and tissue biopsies/resections to determine correlates and predictors of treatment success.Results: At study entry, the presence of preexisting immunosuppressive factors such as FoxP3 and PD-L1 in cervical lesions showed no association with treatment outcome. The combination of HPV typing and cervical cytology following dosing was predictive for both histologic regression and elimination of detectable virus at the efficacy assessment 22 weeks later (negative predictive value 94%). Patients treated with VGX-3100 who had lesion regression had a statistically significant >2-fold increase in CD137⁺perforin⁺CD8⁺ T cells specific for the HPV genotype causing disease. Increases in cervical mucosal CD137⁺ and CD103⁺ infiltrates were observed only in treated patients. Perforin⁺ cell infiltrates were significantly increased >2-fold in cervical tissue only in treated patients who had histologic CR.Conclusions: Quantitative measures associated with an effector immune response to VGX-3100 antigens were associated with lesion regression. Consequently, these analyses indicate that certain immunologic responses associate with successful resolution of HPV-induced premalignancy, with particular emphasis on the upregulation of perforin in the immunotherapy-induced immune response. Clin Cancer Res; 24(2); 276-94. ©2017 AACR.

Patterns of persistent HPV infection after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN): A systematic review

A systematic review of the literature was conducted to determine the estimates of and definitions for human papillomavirus (HPV) persistence in women following treatment of cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN). A total of 45 studies presented data on post-treatment HPV persistence among 6,106 women. Most studies assessed HPV persistence after loop excision (42%), followed by conization (7%), cryotherapy (11%), laser treatment (4%), interferon-alpha, therapeutic vaccination, and photodynamic therapy (2% each) and mixed treatment (38%). Baseline HPV testing was conducted before or at treatment for most studies (96%). Follow-up HPV testing ranged from 1.5 to 80 months after baseline. Median HPV persistence tended to decrease with increasing follow-up time, declining from 27% at 3 months after treatment to 21% at 6 months, 15% at 12 months, and 10% at 24 months. Post-treatment HPV persistence estimates varied widely and were influenced by patient age, HPV-type, detection method, treatment method, and minimum HPV post-treatment testing interval. Loop excision and conization appeared to outperform cryotherapy procedures in terms of their ability to clear HPV infection. This systematic review provides evidence for the substantial heterogeneity in post-treatment HPV DNA testing practices and persistence estimates.

Augmentation of cellular and humoral immune responses to HPV16 and HPV18 E6 and E7 antigens by VGX-3100

We have previously demonstrated the immunogenicity of VGX-3100, a multicomponent DNA immunotherapy for the treatment of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)16/18-positive CIN2/3 in a phase 1 clinical trial. Here, we report on the ability to boost immune responses with an additional dose of VGX-3100. Patients completing our initial phase 1 trial were offered enrollment into a follow on trial consisting of a single boost dose of VGX-3100. Data show both cellular and humoral immune responses could be augmented above pre-boost levels, including the induction of interferon (IFN)γ production, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α production, CD8+ T cell activation and the synthesis of lytic proteins. Moreover, observation of antigen-specific regulation of immune-related gene transcripts suggests the induction of a proinflammatory response following the boost. Analysis of T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing suggests the localization of putative HPV-specific T cell clones to the cervical mucosa, which underscores the putative mechanism of action of lesion regression and HPV16/18 elimination noted in our double-blind placebo-controlled phase 2B trial. Taken together, these data indicate that VGX-3100 drives the induction of robust cellular and humoral immune responses that can be augmented by a fourth "booster" dose. These data could be important in the scope of increasing the clinical efficacy rate of VGX-3100.

HIV Infection and Survival Among Women With Cervical Cancer

Purpose Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among the 20 million women with HIV worldwide. We sought to determine whether HIV infection affected survival in women with invasive cervical cancer. Patients and Methods We enrolled sequential patients with cervical cancer in Botswana from 2010 to 2015. Standard treatment included external beam radiation and brachytherapy with concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy. The effect of HIV on survival was estimated by using an inverse probability weighted marginal Cox model. Results A total of 348 women with cervical cancer were enrolled, including 231 (66.4%) with HIV and 96 (27.6%) without HIV. The majority (189 [81.8%]) of women with HIV received antiretroviral therapy before cancer diagnosis. The median CD4 cell count for women with HIV was 397 (interquartile range, 264 to 555). After a median follow-up of 19.7 months, 117 (50.7%) women with HIV and 40 (41.7%) without HIV died. One death was attributed to HIV and the remaining to cancer. Three-year survival for the women with HIV was 35% (95% CI, 27% to 44%) and 48% (95% CI, 35% to 60%) for those without HIV. In an adjusted analysis, HIV infection significantly increased the risk for death among all women (hazard ratio, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.20 to 3.17) and in the subset that received guideline-concordant curative treatment (hazard ratio, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.05 to 6.55). The adverse effect of HIV on survival was greater for women with a more-limited stage cancer ( P = .035), those treated with curative intent ( P = .003), and those with a lower CD4 cell count ( P = .036). Advanced stage and poor treatment completion contributed to high mortality overall. Conclusion In the context of good access to and use of antiretroviral treatment in Botswana, HIV infection significantly decreases cervical cancer survival.

Clinical significance of human papillomavirus genotyping

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, and the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main causative agent for its development. HPV is a heterogeneous virus, and a persistent infection with a high-risk HPV contributes to the development of cancer. In recent decades, great advances have been made in understanding the molecular biology of HPV, and HPV’s significance in cervical cancer prevention and management has received increased attention. In this review, we discuss the role of HPV genotyping in cervical cancer by addressing: clinically important issues in HPV virology; the current application of HPV genotyping in clinical medicine; and potential future uses for HPV genotyping.

Good performance of p16/ki-67 dual-stained cytology for surveillance of women treated for high-grade CIN

Women treated for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) are at risk of recurrent CIN Grade 2 or worse (rCIN2+). Currently, posttreatment monitoring is performed using cytology or cytology/high-risk (hr)HPV cotesting. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology (p16/Ki-67) for posttreatment monitoring. Three hundred and twenty-three women treated for high-grade CIN in the SIMONATH study underwent close surveillance by cytology, hrHPV and DNA methylation marker testing up to 12 months posttreatment. Histological endpoints were ascertained by colposcopy with biopsy at 6 and/or 12 months. p16/Ki-67 dual-staining was performed on residual liquid-based cytology samples obtained at, or shortly before biopsy collection. Clinical performance estimates of cytology, hrHPV, p16/Ki-67 testing and combinations thereof for the detection of rCIN2+ were determined and compared to each other. Sensitivity of p16/Ki-67 for rCIN2+ (69.2%) was nonsignificantly lower than that of cytology (82.1%; ratio 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71-1.01), but significantly lower than that of hrHPV testing (84.6%; ratio 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68-0.99). Specificity of p16/Ki-67 for rCIN2+ (90.4%) was significantly higher compared to both cytology (70.8%; ratio 1.28, 95% CI: 1.19-1.37) and hrHPV testing (76.2%; ratio 1.19, 95% CI: 1.12-1.26). Overall, hrHPV testing showed very high sensitivity, along with a good specificity. When considering cotesting, combined p16/Ki-67/hrHPV testing showed rCIN2+ sensitivity comparable to cytology/hrHPV cotesting (87.2% vs. 89.7%; ratio 0.97, 95% CI: 0.92-1.03), but with significantly increased specificity (74.2% vs. 58.1%; ratio 1.28, 95% CI: 1.19-1.38). Thus, when considered in combination with hrHPV, p16/Ki-67 might be an attractive approach for surveillance of women treated for high-grade CIN.

Association between human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and E7 variants with subsequent persistent infection and recurrence of cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion after conization

The study aimed to detect the variants of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 E6 and E7 in patients with cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), and to determine the existence and recurrence of persistent infection after treatment with loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). Preoperatively collected cervical exfoliated cells from 100 HPV 16 positive HSIL patients enrolled in the study were used to test for E6 and E7 variants. Follow-ups which included TCT, HPV test, and colposcopy were performed every 3 months after the operation, and colposcopic biopsy and endocervical curettage were performed for patients with abnormalities. Patients were followed for 2 years, and recurrence was defined as detecting low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) or relapse of HSIL in 1 year. In 81% of patients, the E6 variant was the Asian prototype (As.P), 14% of patients had the European variant, 2% had the European prototype (EP), and 3% had the African 1 variant (Af1). The HPV16 could be easily cleared by LEEP in patients with As.P. Persistent infection or recurrence was very rare in this group. The patients with European variants T350G or A442C had a significantly higher incidence of persistent and recurring HPV16 infection. In conclusion, (i) in most cases, As.P caused HSIL. (ii) The European variant E6 T350G/A442C may be associated with higher rates of recurring and persistent HPV16 infection after the LEEP. (iii) The E7 gene mutation may not be a risk factor for recurring HSIL caused by HPV16 or persistent infection. J. Med. Virol. 88:1982-1988, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Absence or Presence of High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion in Cervical Conization Specimens: A Clinicopathologic Study of 540 Cases

OBJECTIVES

To explore the implications of cervical conization specimens lacking the targeted high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (negative cone).

METHODS

We studied 540 conization procedures: 400 positive cones and 140 negative cones. Clinicopathologic features and 2-year follow-up results were reported.

RESULTS

Negative cones comprised 22% of procedures triggered by CIN2 or higher biopsies. Procedures triggered by cytology produced much higher percentages of negative cones (37% high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [HSIL], 46% atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [ASC-H], and 76% low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion-cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [LSIL-H]). Upon reviewing negative excision-triggering biopsy and cytology, we downgraded 24 (24%) CIN2 biopsies, three (14%) HSIL, five (83%) ASC-H, and 12 (92%) LSIL-H. One-third of our negative cones can be attributed to overdiagnosis either on biopsy or cytology. Patients with negative cones were older and had smaller excisions, negative colposcopic findings, and negative/equivocal high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV). Within 2 years, 35 (25%) women with negative cones experienced ASCUS or LSIL. Only one (0.7%) recurred as CIN3, a significantly lower percentage than women with positive cones (13%).

CONCLUSIONS

We advocate careful review of all excision-triggering biopsy and cytology, especially in cases of LSIL-H. Patients with negative cones should be surveyed with cytology and HR-HPV testing.

HPV-Testing in Follow-up of Patients Treated for CIN2+ Lesions

Persistent positivity of HPV-DNA testing is considered a prognostic index of recurrent disease in patients treated for CIN2+. HPV detection, and particularly genotyping, has an adequate high rate of sensitivity and specificity (along with an optimal reproducibility), for accurately predicting treatment failure, allowing for an intensified monitoring activity. Conversely, women with a negative HPV-test 6 months after therapy have a very low risk for residual/recurrent disease, which leads to a more individualized follow-up schedule, allowing for a gradual return to the normal screening scheme. HPV testing should be routinely included (with or without cytology) in post-treatment follow-up of CIN2+ patients for early detection of recurrence and cancer progression. HPV genotyping methods, as a biological indicator of persistent disease, could be more suitable for a predictive role and risk stratification (particularly in the case of HPV 16/18 persistence) than pooled HPV-based testing. However, it is necessary to be aware of the performance of the system, adhering to strict standardization of the process and quality assurance criteria.

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.

Posttreatment human papillomavirus testing for residual or recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a pooled analysis

Objective

We conducted a pooled analysis of published studies to compare the performance of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing and cytology in detecting residual or recurrent diseases after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or 3 (CIN 2/3).

Methods

Source articles presenting data on posttreatment HPV testing were identified from the National Library of Medicine (PubMed) database. We included 5,319 cases from 33 articles published between 1996 and 2013.

Results

The pooled sensitivity of high-risk HPV testing (0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90 to 0.94) for detecting posttreatment CIN 2 or worse (CIN 2+) was much higher than that of cytology (0.76; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.80). Co-testing of HPV testing and cytology maximized the sensitivity (0.93; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.96), while HPV genotyping (detection of the same genotype between pre- and posttreatments) did not improve the sensitivity (0.89; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.94) compared with high-risk HPV testing alone. The specificity of high-risk HPV testing (0.83; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.84) was similar to that of cytology (0.85; 95% CI, 0.84 to 0.87) and HPV genotyping (0.83; 95% CI, 0.81 to 0.85), while co-testing had reduced specificity (0.76; 95% CI, 0.75 to 0.78). For women with positive surgical margins, high-risk HPV testing provided remarkable risk discrimination between test-positives and test-negatives (absolute risk of residual CIN 2+ 74.4% [95% CI, 64.0 to 82.6] vs. 0.8% [95% CI, 0.15 to 4.6]; p<0.001).

Conclusion

Our findings recommend the addition of high-risk HPV testing, either alone or in conjunction with cytology, to posttreatment surveillance strategies. HPV testing can identify populations at greatest risk of posttreatment CIN 2+ lesions, especially among women with positive section margins.

Long-Term Clinical Outcome after Treatment for High-Grade Cervical Lesions: A Retrospective Monoinstitutional Cohort Study

Background. The aim of this retrospective observational study of women treated for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) was to assess the long-term risk of residual/recurrent high-grade CIN. Materials and Methods. We evaluated 760 women treated by loop electrosurgical excision procedure (684) or conization (76) between 2000 and 2009, and followed up to June 30, 2014 (median follow-up 6.7 years, range 4–14). Visits every 6 months for the first year after treatment and yearly for up to the following 10 years included cytology, colposcopy when indicated, and HPV testing (search and typing). Results. CIN2+ or vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (VAIN2+) was detected in 67 cases (8.8%), 39 at first follow-up and 28 after one/more negative visits. The risk of CIN2+ was higher in case of positive margins (odds ratio (OR) 8.04, 95% CI 4.31–15.0), type 3 transformation zone (OR for CIN3 27.7, 95% CI 2.07–36.9), CIN3+ excision (OR 6.02, 95% CI 1.73–20.9), and positive high-risk HPV test at first follow-up (OR for HPV16: 20.6, 95% CI 6.8–62.6; OR for other hrHPV types: 18.3, 95% CI 5.9–57.0). Conclusion. Residual/recurrent high-grade CIN occurred in <9% cases, and the risk was associated with transformation zone type, lesion grade, margins status, and hrHPV test result at 6–12 months of follow-up.

Clinical Performance of Hybrid Capture 2 Human Papillomavirus Testing for Recurrent High-Grade Cervical/Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasm in Patients With an ASC-US Papanicolaou Test Result During Long-Term Posttherapy Follow-up Monitoring

Context

Women who have been treated for high-grade cervical or vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN or VAIN) or invasive carcinoma are at risk for recurrent/persistent disease and require long-term monitoring. The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in this setting is unclear.

Objective

To evaluate the clinical performance of the Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) HPV test for recurrent/residual high-grade CIN or VAIN in patients with a posttherapy abnormal squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) Papanicolaou test result.

Design

We reviewed the follow-up data on 100 patients who had an ASC-US Papanicolaou test and HC2 HPV results after treatment for high-grade CIN/VAIN or carcinoma. Human papillomavirus genotyping was performed for women with a negative HC2 result whose follow-up biopsy revealed CIN/VAIN 2+.

Results

The patients' mean age was 47 years. The HC2 test result was positive in 33% of the patients. Follow-up biopsy was available for 17 of these patients (52%) and for 25 of the 67 patients (37%) with a negative HC2 result. A total of 5 of the patients (29%) with a positive HC2 result and 2 of the patients (8%) with a negative HC2 result had CIN/VAIN 3 on follow-up biopsy, a statistically insignificant difference (P = .10). Human papillomavirus 16/18 genotypes were detected in the CIN/VAIN 2+ lesions of 5 patients with a negative HC2 result.

Conclusion

HC2 yielded a false-negative rate of 8% for CIN 3. HC2 testing therefore may not be sufficient for triage of patients with an ASC-US Papanicolaou test result. Patients with ASC-US during long-term posttherapy follow-up need close monitoring, with colposcopic evaluation if clinically indicated.

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.

Residual disease and HPV persistence after cryotherapy for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3 in HIV-positive women in Kenya

OBJECTIVE

To assess residual cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3 disease and clearance of high-risk (hr) human papillomavirus (HPV) infections at 6 months after cryotherapy among HIV-positive women.

DESIGN

Follow-up study.

METHODS

79 HIV-positive women received cryotherapy for CIN2/3 in Nairobi, Kenya, and underwent conventional cytology 6 months later. Biopsies were performed on high grade cytological lesions and hrHPV was assessed before (cervical cells and biopsy) and after cryotherapy (cells).

RESULTS

At 6 months after cryotherapy CIN2/3 had been eliminated in 61 women (77.2%; 95% Confidence Interval, (CI): 66.4-85.9). 18 women (22.8%) had residual CIN2/3, and all these women had hrHPV at baseline. CD4 count and duration of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) were not associated with residual CIN2/3. CIN3 instead of CIN2 was the only significant risk factor for residual disease (odds ratio, OR vs CIN2 = 4.3; 95% CI: 1.2-15.0) among hrHPV-positive women after adjustment for age and HPV16 infection. Persistence of hrHPV types previously detected in biopsies was found in 77.5% of women and was associated with residual CIN2/3 (OR = 8.1, 95% CI: 0.9-70). The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of hrHPV test in detecting residual CIN2/3 were 0.94, 0.36, and 0.96 respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly one quarter of HIV-positive women had residual CIN2/3 disease at 6 months after cryotherapy, and the majority had persistent hrHPV. CD4 count and cART use were not associated with residual disease or hrHPV persistence. The value of hrHPV testing in the detection of residual CIN2/3 was hampered by a low specificity.

Clearance of human papillomavirus in women treated for cervical dysplasia

OBJECTIVE

To estimate human papillomavirus (HPV) clearance of women with cervical abnormalities after treatment.

METHODS

Women attending dysplasia clinics between 2001 and 2007 with a new diagnosis of high-grade dysplasia or persistent low-grade dysplasia requiring treatment by excision or laser ablation were invited to participate. Cervical cytology, histology of biopsies collected at colposcopy, and HPV DNA detection and genotyping of 37 HPV genotypes on specimens collected at treatment and subsequent routine visits were examined. A log-rank test was used to compare the survival distribution between groups.

RESULTS

Of the 1,649 women eligible at treatment (baseline), 1,207 (73%) were included in the analysis; 96% (n=1,159) had three or more posttreatment visits. At baseline and the subsequent three follow-up visits, the prevalence of women with HPV DNA detected was 84%, 53% (on average, 6.3 months after baseline), 44% (on average, 15.7 months after baseline), and 45% (on average, 24.3 months after baseline). The median time to HPV clearance was approximately 6 months for either HPV 16 (n=387) or HPV 18 (n=96), irrespective of concurrent detection of other types. On average, HPV 16 or HPV 18 types cleared faster than other types (P<.001). This association remained significant after adjustment for age, preoperative histology, number of preoperative histology results, and treatment type.

CONCLUSION

Clearance times of HPV 16 and HPV 18 infections were similar to each another but shorter than other HPV types.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Human papillomavirus detection and genotyping, by HC2, full-spectrum HPV and molecular beacon real-time HPV assay in an Irish colposcopy clinic

Cervical screening programmes are moving towards HPV testing as part of the screening process and as a triage for colposcopy. Three HPV detection methods were evaluated using cervical cytology specimens from colposcopy patients. PreservCyt™ liquid based cytology specimens from 241 women attending colposcopy clinics with greater than 2 persistently abnormal smears were recruited through the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin. HPV DNA was detected by Hybrid Capture (HC2) for 13 high-risk HPV types, Full-Spectrum HPV (FS-HPV) for 49 high and low-risk types and Molecular Beacon Real-Time HPV assay (MBRT-HPV) for 16 high and low-risk types. HPV genotyping was performed using Linear Array HPV Assay (LA-HPV). HPV was detected in 83.3% (195/234), 91.9% (217/236) and 80.1% (169/211) of cytology specimens by HC2, FS-HPV and MBRT-HPV, HPV DNA detection assays. The sensitivity of the assays for the detection of high-risk HPV in cytology specimens that had a Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Grade 2+ result by histology were, 98%, 97% and 94% for HC2, FS-HPV and MBRT-HPV assays with positive predictive values of 94.1%, 94.1% and 97.3%. The most common HPV genotypes were HPV 16, 31, 33, 58, 42, 61 and 53, and the most common high-risk HPV genotypes were HPV 16, 31, 33, 58, 18, 45, 59, 51, 56 and 39, with detection of multiple infections in 57.7% of all cases. FS-HPV and MBRT-HPV are highly sensitive and have a similarly high PPV as the HC2 assay for detection of HPV in patients with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Grade 2+ disease. HPV genotyping of women with persistent abnormalities is warranted prior to the introduction of HPV DNA testing in a colposcopy setting.

Hybrid Capture II testing for high-risk human papillomavirus DNA in the follow-up of women treated for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to estimate and compare the validity of high-risk human papillomavirus DNA (HR-HPV DNA) testing using Hybrid Capture II with and without Pap cytological examination in the detection of incident high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2+) after treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 1,608 women undergoing ablative or excisional treatment were recruited to the study between May 2001 and June 2005, of whom 985 women were treated for CIN 2+. High-risk HPV DNA tests and Pap smears were performed once in every 6 months for 24 months after treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 888 women were eligible for analysis. High-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was detected in 22 women (2.5%) for the 24 months after treatment. The sensitivity for CIN 2+ detection with cytological diagnosis ranged from 43% to 100%, from 67% to 100% for HR-HPV DNA test, and from 67% to 100% for both tests combined. The specificity of cytological diagnosis ranged from 94% to 97%, from 75% to 84% for HR-HPV DNA test, and from 80% to 82% for both tests combined. The positive predictive value for cytological diagnosis ranged from 8% to 30%, from 4% to 14% for HR-HPV DNA test, and from 4% to 11% for both tests combined. The negative predictive value was 99% or greater for cytological diagnosis alone, HR-HPV DNA test alone, or for both tests combined.

CONCLUSIONS

As histologically proven CIN 2+ after treatment for this group of women was low, adding HR-HPV DNA testing to Pap smear did not increase the detection of CIN 2+ or enhance the negative predictive value of cytological diagnosis alone.

Human papillomavirus testing and cytologic/histopathologic "test of cure" follow-up results after excisional treatment for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

INTRODUCTION

Recently published guidelines now specifically recommend cytology and HPV cotesting as follow-up after high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2/3) excision.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 988 patients with CIN 2/3 treated by excision between July 2005 and December 2009 were identified with available "test of cure" follow-up results over an average of 36 months. Average age was 32 years.

RESULTS

CIN 2/3 was reported during follow-up in 67 of 988 (6.8%) patients; 45 of 67 (67.2%) follow-up CIN 2/3 diagnoses were within 2 years of excision. Post-treatment CIN 2/3 was significantly more likely after initial CIN 3 grade, positive excision margins, and human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive follow-up results, but not significantly associated in this cohort with age. A total of 514 women had follow-up HPV tests, and 32.3% had at least 1 HPV-positive result. Post-treatment CIN 2/3 was diagnosed in 24 of 165 (14.5%) patients with at least 1 follow-up HPV-positive result and in 6 of 349 (1.7%) with only follow-up HPV-negative results. No HPV-negative/cytology-negative follow-up results were documented among 30 post-treatment patients later developing recurrent CIN 2/3.

CONCLUSIONS

Cytology and HPV cotesting facilitates early intervention during follow-up after CIN 2/3 excision.

Five-year risk of recurrence after treatment of CIN 2, CIN 3, or AIS: performance of HPV and Pap cotesting in posttreatment management

OBJECTIVE

After excisional treatment, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN 2+) can recur. It is not clear how many negative posttreatment Pap or cotest results are needed to ensure adequate safety against CIN 2+ before returning to extended retesting intervals.

METHODS

We observed 5-year risks of CIN 2+ for 3 follow-up management strategies after treatment (Pap-alone, human papillomavirus [HPV]-alone, and HPV/Pap cotesting) for 3,273 women aged 25 years and older who were treated for CIN 2, CIN 3, or adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) between 2003 and 2010 at Kaiser Permanente Northern California.

RESULTS

Five-year risks of recurrent CIN 2+ after treatment varied both by antecedent screening test result and the histology of the treated lesion. The risk ranged from 5% for CIN 2 preceded by HPV-positive/atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion to 16% for CIN 3/AIS preceded by atypical glandular cells (AGC)/atypical squamous cells cannot rule out high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H)/high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or worse (HSIL+) (p < .0001). However, after posttreatment negative tests, risks were lowered and similar regardless of antecedent screening test and histology of treated disease. The 5-year recurrent CIN 2+ risk after a negative posttreatment cotest (2.4%) was lower than that following a negative HPV test (3.7%, p = .3) or negative Pap result (4.2%, p = .1). Two negative posttreatment tests of each kind conferred slightly lower 5-year CIN 2+ risk than one (2 negative Pap tests vs. 1, 2.7% vs 4.2%, p = .2; 2 negative HPV tests vs. 1, 2.7% vs 3.7%, p = .7; 2 negative cotests vs. 1, 1.5% vs 2.4%, p = .8). The 5-year CIN 2+ risk after 2 negative cotests of 1.5% (95% confidence interval = 0.3%-7.2%) approached the 0.68% risk after a negative Pap test during routine screening.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with antecedent AGC/ASC-H/HSIL+ Pap results or those treated for CIN 3/AIS had a substantial risk of developing CIN 2+ posttreatment. On the basis of the principle of "equal management of equal risks," after negative test results posttreatment, no subgroup of women achieved risk sufficiently low to return to 5-year routine screening. However, negative cotests after treatment provided more reassurance against recurrent CIN 2+ than either negative Pap tests or HPV tests alone.

Clinical utility of HPV testing

Testing for human papilloma virus (HPV) has been shown to be more sensitive than cervical cytology in detecting both high-grade and low-grade dysplasia. When screening for cervical cancer, unfortunately, the HPV test lacks specificity and has limited its usefulness as a primary screening modality for cervical cancer. In this chapter, we will review HPV and its role in cervical cancer, the utilization of HPV testing in current practice, and the possible future utilization of HPV and its role in screening.

The Clinical Role of HPV Testing in Primary and Secondary Cervical Cancer Screening

Traditional population-based cervical screening programs, based on cytology, have successfully reduced the burden of cervical cancer. Nevertheless limitations remain and new screening methods are emerging. Despite vaccination against the 2 most oncogenic types (HPV 16/18), cervical cancer screening will have to continue as an essential public health strategy. As the acquisition of an HR-HPV infection is critical in the progression to (pre-)cancerous cervical lesions, recent research has focused on HR-HPV detection. The sensitivity of HPV testing in primary and secondary prevention outweighs that of cytology, at the cost of slightly lower specificity. Although most of the HR-HPV infections are cleared after conization, new evidence from numerous studies encourages the implementation of HR-HPV testing and genotyping to improve posttreatment surveillance. An HR-HPV test 6 months after conization is a promising useful clinical marker to detect persistence and prevent progression. This review highlights the clinical role of HPV testing in primary and secondary cervical cancer screening.

Practice guidelines for the early detection of cervical cancer in Korea: Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology and the Korean Society for Cytopathology 2012 edition

The consensus guideline development committee of Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology was reconvened in March 2012. The committee consisted of 36 experts representing 12 university hospitals and professional organizations. The objective of this committee was to develop standardized guidelines for cervical cancer screening tests for Korean women and to distribute these guidelines to every clinician, eventually improving the quality of medical care. Since the establishment of the consensus guideline development committee, evidence-based guidelines have either been developed de novo considering specific Korean situations or by adaptation of preexisting consensus guidelines from other countries. Recommendations for cervical cancer screening tests, management of atypical squamous and glandular cells, and management of low-grade and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions were developed. Additionally, recommendations for human papillomavirus DNA testing and recommendations for adolescent and pregnant women with abnormal cervical screening test results were also included.

HPV-based Tests for Cervical Cancer Screening and Management of Cervical Disease

Current cervical cancer screening programs are changing due to the development of tests that detect the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV), the cause of cervical cancer. These tests are more sensitive than cytology-based methods for detecting cervical precancer and a negative test offers long-term assurance that cervical cancer will not develop and therefore longer screening intervals can be achieved. In screening programs, HPV-based tests have been approved to triage women with equivocal cytology results and as a primary testing method in conjunction with cytology. HPV-based tests also have a role in determining risk of recurrence after treatment for cervical precancer as well as in surveillance for vaccine-related changes in HPV genotype prevalence.

Early human papillomavirus testing predicts residual/recurrent disease after LEEP

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive factors for residual/recurrent disease and to analyze the timing for Pap smears and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing during follow-up after loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 or worse.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 183 patients (mean age, 39.3 years) with CIN 2/3 who were treated with LEEP. Post-LEEP follow-up was performed by Pap smear and HPV hybrid capture2 (HC2) testing. The definition of persistent/recurrent disease was biopsy-proven CIN 2 or worse.

Results

Among 183 patients, punch biopsies were CIN 2 in 31 (16.9%) and CIN 3 in 152 (83.1%). HPV HC2 tests before LEEP were positive in 170 (95.5%) of 178 patients. During follow-up, 12 patients (6.6%) had residual/recurrent CIN 2+. LEEP margin status was a significant predictive factor for persistent/recurrent disease. Other factors such as age, HPV HC2 viral load (≥100 relative light units), and HPV typing (type 16/18 vs. other types) did not predict recurrence. Early HPV HC2 testing at 3 months after LEEP detected all cases of residual/recurrent disease. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of the HPV HC2 test for residual/recurrent disease were both 100% at 3 and 6 months.

Conclusion

Margin involvement in conization specimens was a significant factor predicting residual/recurrent disease after LEEP. HPV test results at 3 and 6 months after treatment were comparable. Early 3-month follow-up testing after LEEP can offer timely information about residual/recurrent disease and alleviate patient anxiety early about treatment failure.

Costs associated with management of cervical human papillomavirus-related conditions

BACKGROUND

Oncogenic types of human papillomavirus (HPV) have been linked to 99.7% of cervical cancer cases worldwide.

METHODS

This retrospective claims-based analysis was conducted to assess patterns of use and costs associated with diagnostic and treatment procedures for disease attributed to HPV performed before the introduction of HPV vaccination (January 1, 2001-May 31, 2006). Percentages of commercially insured health plan enrollees who underwent each procedure of interest were calculated for each year. Annual costs (combined patient and health plan-paid amounts) were calculated from qualifying medical claims. Descriptive statistics were used to assess trends in procedure rates and costs.

RESULTS

Data for approximately 14.2 million enrollees were obtained. Hysterectomy was the most commonly administered treatment. With the exception of colposcopy with LEEP, all other treatment procedures experienced a decline in rate of use. The most frequently performed diagnostic procedure was colposcopy with endocervical curettage (ECC). With the exception of ECC, rates of diagnostic procedures reached a peak among 20- to 24-year-olds, and followed a downward trend across older groups. Hysterectomy was the most expensive treatment (median $7,383; mean $8,384) per procedure in 2006.

CONCLUSION

Results reveal high rates of use and high-associated costs of diagnostic procedures and treatments related to disease attributed to HPV.

IMPACT

The data presented may be useful in cost-effectiveness analyses and to guide decision makers evaluating how best to optimize prevention strategies.