New test ‘slashes rates of cervical cancer’

HUNDREDS of women could be spared cervical cancer every year when a new test replaces conventional screening, a study suggests.

Testing for the human papilloma virus (HPV) is more accurate than screening for abnormal cells because it can pick up the cancer-causing infection before these changes develop, researchers found.

The new method led to ‘significantly higher’ rates of precancerous cells being being picked up in women and will allow faster treatment to stop the cancer developing, according to a study of more than 19,000 women.

Experts say the method will save the lives of hundreds of women when it is rolled out on the NHS by the end of next year.

Fiona osgun, of Cancer research UK, said: ‘This change to how cervical screening samples are tested will help prevent more cases and save hundreds more lives.’

Nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by persistent HPV infections which cause changes to cervical cells.

Women are currently tested for abnormal cells before further checks reveal if they need treatment for HPV. But the study by Canadian researchers, published in journal JaMa, found testing for HPV first had better results.

The women, aged 25 to 65, were split into two groups with half given the HPV test and half screened using a Pap smear test.

The researchers, led by the University of British Columbia, found that significantly more women showed signs of abnormal cells in the first round of HPV testing compared with the conventional smear tests.

referral rates for abnormal cells were 57 per cent in the HPV group, compared with only 30.8 per cent for those who had smear tests.

and four years later, referral rates were 49.2 per cent for the HPV group, against 70.5 per cent for the other group. This suggests the HPV test also allowed for earlier detection.

lead author dr Gina ogilvie said the new method was more accurate and that ‘a negative HPV test offers more assurance that women will not develop pre- cancer in the next four years’ – meaning screenings will not have to be as frequent. robert Music, of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, described HPV screening as ‘an exciting advancement’ that would prevent around 400 diagnoses every year.

‘This will save hundreds of lives’