New cervical cancer test 'more effective'

Every year, almost 2,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, a condition which kills one in three sufferers within five years.

However, experts in Finland say that a new type of testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the main cause of the cancer, may be able to reduce these statistics.

Specialists at the Finnish Cancer Registry in Helsinki have claimed that HPV DNA testing with cytology triage is more sensitive than conventional cytology screening for detecting cervical lesions.

Dr Maarit Leinonen, from the Mass Screening Registry at the facility, conducted a test involving Finnish women aged between 25 and 65, who were sent randomised invitations for HPV DNA testing with cytology triage or conventional screening.

The scientists then compared the age-specific performance of each method of testing and found that primary HPV DNA screening with cytology triage was more sensitive than conventional screening for detecting cervical lesions.

Dr Leinonen told cancer cover holders that women younger than 35 years old who had HPV DNA screening were referred for colposcopy more often than those who got conventional screening.

The results also showed that HPV DNA testing with cytology triage among women over 35 was not only more sensitive and specific than conventional screening, but also had a higher precision rate and was associated with fewer colposcopy referrals and follow-up tests.

Dr Leinonen explained: "In countries like Finland that have a well-organized cervical screening program and low incidence of cervical cancer, new interventions are expected to provide only small increases in a screening program's efficacy. Nevertheless, our results support the use of HPV DNA testing with cytology triage in primary cervical screening."

Commenting on the findings, Dr Eduardo Franco told cancer insurance customers that the use of an automated and objective molecular test, such as the HPV DNA procedure, could increase the number of abnormal smears being sent for cytology reading and avoid the need to read smears in primary screening.

By Stephen Tate

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