Diagnostic and prognostic validity of the human papillomavirus E6/E7 mRNA test in cervical cytological samples of HC2-positive patients

Cancer Causes Control. 2011 Jun;22(6):869-75. doi: 10.1007/s10552-011-9757-0. Epub 2011 Mar 19.

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the clinical utility in identifying CIN2 or worse (CIN2+), of the Pretect HPV-Proofer test for E6/E7 mRNA detection in Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2)-positive patients, who underwent colposcopy. In particular, the study analyzed the mRNA test performance as the third test in a subgroup of HC2+ patients with less severe than high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL-). We analyzed 464 cervico-vaginal samples by liquid-based cytology (LBC) and PreTect HPV-Proofer. Moreover 231 patients also had a biopsy at baseline and 75, with HSIL-, were followed up within 2 years by LBC, colposcopy, and histology when indicated. The highest sensitivity for CIN2+ belonged to the mRNA compared to LBC, at the HSIL+ threshold (72% vs. 58%), whereas the LBC showed the highest specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) (99 and 93% vs. 73 and 39%, respectively). Focusing on the 408 HSIL- patients, the mRNA positivity was significantly more associated with CIN2+ than CIN2- lesions (p < 0.0001). Moreover, among the 75 HSIL- followed up patients, the mRNA displayed high longitudinal Specificity (89%), even if the sensitivity and the PPV were low (50 and 20%, respectively). The present data suggest that the mRNA test may have a diagnostic and a potentially prognostic role in HC2+/HSIL- patients.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cervix Uteri / metabolism
  • Cervix Uteri / pathology*
  • Cervix Uteri / virology
  • Cytodiagnosis / methods
  • Diagnostic Techniques, Obstetrical and Gynecological*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / genetics*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Papillomavirus E7 Proteins / genetics*
  • Papillomavirus E7 Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Papillomavirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / pathology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • RNA, Messenger / isolation & purification
  • RNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / diagnosis
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / pathology
  • Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / virology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / virology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral
  • Papillomavirus E7 Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Viral
  • Repressor Proteins