Starting cervical cancer screening at 25 years of age: the time has come

Review of triage strategies for atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance among young women

In the present study we reviewed the existing literature regarding management approaches for ASC-US and highlight their pros and cons. The ASC-US entity emerged from Bethesda classification 2001. We conducted this review using search words ASC-US triage, ASC-US management in young women, triage tests for ASC-US, and ASC-US outcome from the English literature. We included different cervical cancer policies (American, European and for WHO) and research articles published on ASC-US in young women from the year 2001. We searched in Google Scholar, PubMed, MEDLINE (NCBI) library, Embase (Elsevier), Wiley online library as well as Cochrane library. We defined young women as aged 30 years and below. We identified 52 articles which focused on management approaches of ASC-US, seven articles focused on young women aged <30 years. Five of these articles combined ASC-US with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASC-US/LSIL) while only two addressed ASC-US as a standalone entity. The limited number of articles restricts the evidence base supporting the adoption of triage strategies. There is yet, no consensus in the literature regarding the management of ASC-US, more so in young women below the age of 30 years. Researchers, however, agree on a few aspects, which include the necessity for applying a conservative strategy for managing ASC-US in young women, avoiding direct referral for colposcopy at the initial detection of ASC-US, and avoiding the use of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing on young women (unless living with HIV). Newer techniques such as HPV E6/E7 messenger RNA (mRNA), and dual staining p16/ki-67, may serve as better triage to identify cases of HPV persistence and integration which may subsequently lead to preinvasive or invasive lesions.

Clinicopathological Features and Survival of Adolescent and Young Adults with Cervical Cancer

PURPOSE

To explore clinicopathological characteristics and their prognostic value among young patients with cervical cancer (who are aged ≤25 years old).

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) database was used to extract data on cervical cancer patients. They were then stratified by age as young women (≤25 years old) and old women (26-35 years old) and analyzed for clinicopathology characteristics and treatment modalities. Prognosis was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curve, as well as hazard ratios using Cox regression modeling. The nomogram was developed based on Cox hazards regression model.

RESULTS

Compared to 26-35 years old women, patients aged ≤25 years tended to be white ethnicity, unmarried, had earlier stage of disease. There was also a better prognosis among younger cohort. Grade, FIGO stage, histologic subtypes, and surgical modalities influenced the survival outcomes of young patients. Among young cohorts, surgery prolonged the survival time of IA-IIA stage patients while surgical and non-surgical management presented no statistically prognostic difference among patients at IIB-IVB stage. Besides, the nomogram which constructed according to Cox hazards regression model which contained independent prognosis factors including FIGO stage, surgery type, and histologic type of tumor can robustly predict survival of young patients.

CONCLUSION

Cervical cancer patients ≤25 years old were uncommon and lived longer than the older patients. Among these young patients at IA-IIA stage, surgical treatment could be more effective at preventing death than non-surgery. The nomogram could perfectly predict the prognosis of young adults and adolescents with cervical cancer.

A health economic model to estimate the costs and benefits of an mRNA vs DNA high-risk HPV assay in a hypothetical HPV primary screening algorithm in Ontario, Canada

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Using an mRNA HPV test in cervical screening can reduce costs and avoid procedures.

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This could benefit both the healthcare system and women by optimizing resource use.

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These results can inform choices in cervical screening programs in Canada.

This study models the impact of using two different types of high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) tests: mRNA (Aptima) and DNA (Hybrid Capture 2) as part of a hypothetical primary HPV screening program in Ontario, Canada. Outcomes were the costs of the screening program, and number of colposcopies, HPV tests and cytology tests. Results were estimated for one cohort going through the screening algorithm. A decision tree model was adapted from a published UK study, with inputs drawn from published Canadian data for the probabilities through the model, costs, demographic, and screening data from Ontario. Sensitivity and scenario analyses explored uncertainty in the model inputs and assumptions. Results indicated that screening using an mRNA test could yield cost savings of CAD $4,007,266 (95% credibility interval [CI]: −7,866,251 – 8,035) compared to using a DNA test, with 10,639 (95% CI: 10,170 – 11,094) fewer women undergoing unnecessary colposcopies, and reductions in unnecessary HR-HPV and cytology tests. The HR-HPV test comprised the largest percentage of the costs saved, and the probability of being HPV positive in the first year had the biggest impact on results. These results indicate that the choice of HR-HPV test is important when implementing a primary HPV screening program to avoid unnecessary resource use and cost, which will benefit both women and healthcare providers.