Design and feasibility of a novel program of cervical screening in Nigeria: self-sampled HPV testing paired with visual triage

Background Accelerated global control of cervical cancer would require primary prevention with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in addition to novel screening program strategies that are simple, inexpensive, and effective. We present the feasibility and outcome of a community-based HPV self-sampled screening program. Methods In Ile Ife, Nigeria, 9406 women aged 30–49 years collected vaginal self-samples, which were tested for HPV in the local study laboratory using Hybrid Capture-2 (HC2) (Qiagen). HPV-positive women were referred to the colposcopy clinic. Gynecologist colposcopic impression dictated immediate management; biopsies were taken when definite acetowhitening was present to produce a histopathologic reference standard of precancer (and to determine final clinical management). Retrospective linkage to the medical records identified 442 of 9406 women living with HIV (WLWH). Results With self-sampling, it was possible to screen more than 100 women per day per clinic. Following an audio-visual presentation and in-person instructions, overall acceptability of self-sampling was very high (81.2% women preferring self-sampling over clinician collection). HPV positivity was found in 17.3% of women. Intensive follow-up contributed to 85.9% attendance at the colposcopy clinic. Of those referred, 8.2% were initially treated with thermal ablation and 5.6% with large loop excision of transformation zone (LLETZ). Full visibility of the squamocolumnar junction, necessary for optimal visual triage and ablation, declined from 68.5% at age 30 to 35.4% at age 49. CIN2+ and CIN3+ (CIN- Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia), including five cancers, were identified by histology in 5.9 and 3.2% of the HPV-positive women, respectively (0.9 and 0.5% of the total screening population), leading to additional treatment as indicated. The prevalences of HPV infection and CIN2+ were substantially higher (40.5 and 2.5%, respectively) among WLWH. Colposcopic impression led to over- and under-treatment compared to the histopathology reference standard. Conclusion A cervical cancer screening program using self-sampled HPV testing, with colposcopic immediate management of women positive for HPV, proved feasible in Nigeria. Based on the collected specimens and images, we are now evaluating the use of a combination of partial HPV typing and automated visual evaluation (AVE) of cervical images to improve the accuracy of the screening program.

Screening for cervical cancer in younger women may be an issue - A comparative study

Cervical cancer is a burning issue in our health sector. A project on cervical & breast cancer screening has been running already in Bangladesh. All sexually active women of 30-years and above or those who are married for 10 years or more are included in this project. But significant numbers of women, less than 30 years of age were referred to Colposcopy clinic for evaluation. They also had high grade lesion. The purpose of this study was to identify the need for cervical cancer screening programme in younger women who are less than 30 years old. This is a comparative retrospective study conducted in 30 years old women and less than 30 years old (21-29 years) women, who were attending Colposcopy clinic for evaluation & treatment in Khulna Medical College & Hospital (KMCH) from January 2013 to December 2013. We analysed 235 Colposcopies in 225 women (30 years old in Group-A; less than 30 years old in Group-B) who were attending at Colposcopy clinic in Khulna Medical College Hospital in 2013. Among group A (n=90), colposcopic findings were: normal-36 (40%), CIN I-30 (33.33%), CIN II-15 (16.67%), CIN III-2 (2.22%), invasive carcinoma-3 (3.33%). Among group B (n=135), colposcopic findings were: normal-52 (38.52%), CIN I-38 (28.14%), CIN II-26 (19.25%), CIN III-3 (2.22%), invasive carcinoma-2 (1.48%). There characteristics were analysed and compared with each other. Although cervical cancer is extremely rare at younger age, there is increasing rate of younger women with high grade cervical lesion who may need treatment. It seems that these lesions have comparable behaviors as in older women. Early age of marriage is responsible for developing cervical cancer & precancerous conditions. So screening should be started in earlier. Careful colposcopic assessment and evaluation before treatment remain indispensable in this regard. Mediscope Vol. 7, No. 2: July 2020, Page 82-88

Alterations of HPV-Related Biomarkers after Prophylactic HPV Vaccination. A Prospective Pilot Observational Study in Greek Women

The objective of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that HPV vaccination administered in patients with low-grade (LG) cytology shortly after an initial colposcopic assessment could prospectively alter HPV-related biomarkers. This was a prospective pilot observational study involving women attending a colposcopy clinic for evaluation of abnormal LG cytology that were advised to undergo HPV vaccination and proceeded accordingly. These women were compared with a matched unvaccinated group. Women requiring cervical biopsies or CIN treatment were excluded. Intervention: A full three-dose HPV vaccination was undertaken with either the 2-valent or the 4-valent anti-HPV VLP vaccine. LBC samples were obtained prior and after the completion of the vaccination regimen and tested for HPV DNA genotyping (CLART-2 HPV test) and E6 and E7 mRNA (NASBA technique). Results: Alterations of HPV-related biomarkers at a colposcopy reassessment appointment 12 months later. Analysis: The p-values, relative risk (RR), absolute relative risk (ARR), number needed to treat (NNT) and 95% confidence intervals for each biomarker in each group were assessed. Results: A total of 309 women were included in the analysis. One hundred fifty-two women received the vaccine. HPV vaccination reduced in a statistically significant manner (p < 0.05) HPV DNA positivity rates for genotypes 16, 18, and 31, RR = 1.6 (95% CI: 1.1 to 2.3), RR = 1.7 (95% CI: 1.1 to 2.8), and RR = 1.8 (95% CI: 1.0 to 2.9), in women who only tested DNA-positive for HPV16, 18, and 31 genotypes, respectively, prior to vaccination. A less pronounced, statistically insignificant reduction was shown for women who tested positive for both HPV DNA and mRNA E6 and E7 expression for HPV16, 18, and 33 subtypes. Statistically significant reduction in HPV mRNA positivity was solely documented for genotype 31 (p = 0.0411). Conclusions: HPV vaccination appears to significantly affect the rates of HPV16, 18, and 31 DNA-positive infections in the population testing HPV DNA-positive for the aforementioned genotypes. The above findings deserve verification in larger cohorts.

Association between Cervical Dysplasia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Objective The aim of this study was to determine if cervical dysplasia during pregnancy is associated with pregnancy complications, including preterm delivery and pre-eclampsia. Study Design A retrospective cohort analyses was performed with propensity-score matching to compare complication rates between pregnant women without history of abnormal cervical cancer screening and pregnant women referred for cervical dysplasia assessment to colposcopy clinic. A composite outcome of pregnancy complications included intra-amniotic infection, preterm premature rupture of membranes, pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery, low birth weight, oligohydramnios, and intrauterine fetal demise. Complication rates were compared between women with and without cervical dysplasia using logistic regression models. Results Overall cohort included 2,814 women, 279 of whom attended colposcopy clinic for cervical dysplasia assessment. Propensity score–matched cohort included 1,459 women, 274 of whom attended colposcopy clinic. Composite complications of pregnancy rates were not significantly different between control and colposcopy groups in both cohorts (25.3% and 29.0%, P = 0.20; 26.5% and 29.3%, P = 0.45). Dysplasia was not associated with composite pregnancy complications in overall and matched cohorts (odds ratio [OR] = 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.77–1.56) and (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 0.72–1.49). When cervical dysplasia was determined on biopsy or colposcopy, dysplasia was not associated with complications in the overall and matched cohorts. Conclusion Biopsy and/or colposcopy determined cervical dysplasia during pregnancy was not associated with pregnancy complications.