Researchers from IPO Porto develop algorithm to improve cervical cancer screening

Researchers from the Epigenetics & Cancer Biology Group at the IPO Porto Research Center, in collaboration with the Pathology and Clinical Pathology Services, have developed an algorithm to improve the screening of women who test positive for HPV infection in the Population Cervical Cancer Screening Program implemented in the Northern region of the country. Based on DNA methylation markers and combined with HPV genotyping information, this algorithm reduces the number of women referred for a Cervical Pathology consultation and possible colposcopy. This study, published in the prestigious journal MedComm, demonstrates a potential reduction of about 12% in false positives compared to the strategy currently used in the population-based screening program, resulting in a reduction of approximately 13% in women sent for additional consultation. These results may significantly contribute to decreasing the effects of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of women who test positive for HPV infection, while also increasing the sustainability of the screening program.

Authors and Affiliations:

Sofia Salta ^1,2, José Pedro Sequeira ^1,3, Bárbara Amorim-Fernandes ¹, João Lobo ^4,5, Inês Baldaque ⁶, Paula Monteiro ^1,4, Fernando Tavares ⁷, Valérie Taly ⁸, Rui Henrique^4,5#, Carmen Jerónimo ^1,5#

¹ Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center Raquel Seruca (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072,Porto, Portugal

²Doctoral Program in Molecular Pathology and Genetics, ICBAS – School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences – University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal

³ Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences, ICBAS – School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences – University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal

⁴ Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center Raquel Seruca (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.

⁵ Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, ICBAS – School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences – University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-513, Porto, Portugal

⁶ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Pathology Service, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center Raquel Seruca (Porto.CCC), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal.

⁷ Departamento de Estudos e Planeamento, Coordenação Nacional dos Programas de Rastreio de Base Populacional (CN-Rast_Pop), Direção Executiva do Serviço Nacional de Saúde, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, Portaria B, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal

⁸ Centre de recherche des cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris Cité, Équipe 26, Équipe labellisée ligue nationale contre le cancer, UMR S1138, CNRS SNC 5096, 15 rue de l’école de médecine, 75006 Paris

^#Joint Senior and Corresponding Authors

Journal: MedComm

Link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mco2.70203