New test could cut cervical cancer toll

A NEW ultra-sensitive cervical cancer test could double the early diagnosis rate and slash the number of deaths from the killer disease.

Trials of the ZedScan technology, developed by a top British doctor, found it picked up subtle changes to cells in the womb before they became cancerous. It means women can potentially be treated sooner, and more effectively, for the disease.

A study in Sheffield involved 1,200 women who were referred for further investigation, known as colposcopy, following an abnormal smear. In those classified as low risk, ZedScan identified an additional 50 per cent more cases where potentially pre-cancerous cells were present compared to colposcopy alone – 129 compared with 86. It also picked up an additional 13 per cent of cases where more advanced pre-cancerous cells were present.

The device was developed by John Tidy, professor of gynaecological oncology at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Prof Tidy said it was important that testing became more sensitive because HPV jabs introduced for 12 and 13-year-old girls in 2008 meant that, while there would be fewer cases of cervical cancer in the future, they would potentially be harder to spot.

HPV is linked to cervical cancer in around 99.7 per cent of cases. Prof Tidy said: ‘The HPV vaccine protects against two strains of infection which are linked to most cases of cervical cancer and pre-cancer. But other strains can still cause abnormal changes to the cervix at a level which is less easy to detect. This is why the test must become more sensitive.’

He added: ‘If you have a high-risk smear result, and the colposcopy is abnormal, it’s relatively accurate. But if the reason for being referred is a low-grade result, or persistent HPV infection, it becomes more unreliable.

‘As more low-grade cases come through, which is what will happen as a result of the HPV vaccination programme, we may not be able to identify them correctly.’

From next year, women having smear tests will first have their samples tested for the sexually transmitted HPV virus, and only if they are positive will the same samples be screened for abnormal cells. It follows a successful pilot which suggested this could better identify women at risk.