August 30, 2019
Bulletin interne de l'Institut Pasteur
Cervical cancer: New test enhances ability to predict risk
The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics and the Institut Pasteur report that a new test enhances ability to predict risk of developing cervical cancer in human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive women. This two-fold test is capable of detecting and determining the type of HPV infection as well as the likelihood of progressing to cancer.
Ninety-nine percent of cervical cancers are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). More than 200 HPVs, some of them being associated with varying degrees of cancer risk, complicate diagnosis and treatment. A report in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, published by Elsevier, describes a new “two-for-one” diagnostic approach that not only detects the type of HPV infection, but also indicates precancerous markers. This test may improve the ability to diagnose the riskiest forms of HPV infection, provide rapid results at low cost, and help avoid unnecessary diagnostic procedures.