(HealthDay News) — Detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) 6, 11, 42 or combination infections does not identify increased 3-year risk of cervical precancer, according to a study published in the January issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Philip E. Castle, PhD, MPH, from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, and colleagues used data from the New Mexico Human Papillomavirus Pap Registry for a stratified sample of 59,644 residual cervical cytology specimens that underwent HPV genotyping from a population of 379,000 cytology specimens. The 3-year cumulative incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or more severe (CIN 2+) and grade 3 or more severe (CIN 3+) was assessed after detection of 581 single or multiple infections of HPV 6, 11, or 42.

The researchers found that there was a 0.8% overall prevalence of a single infection of HPV 6, 11, or 42. After 581 HPV 6, 11, 42, or combinations infections, the 3-year risk of CIN 2+ and CIN 3+ were 0.4% and 0.0%, respectively. In comparison, after a negative HPV result (27,522 cytologic results), the 3-year risks of CIN 2+ and CIN 3+ were 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively.


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“Testing for HPV 6, 11, 42, or combinations of those types should be discontinued because it has no proven benefit to patients,” the authors wrote.

Roche Molecular Systems provided the Genotyping Test and equipment to automate the HPV genotyping assays. Two authors disclosed financial ties to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including Roche.

References

  1. Castle PE, Hunt WC, Langsfeld E, et al. Three-Year Risk of Cervical Precancer and Cancer After the Detection of Low-Risk Human Papillomavirus Genotypes Targeted by a Commercial Test. Obstet Gynecol. 2014;doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000000013.