Description

The purpose of this paper is to describe the updated biotechnologies approved to be used for identifying precancerous cervical lesions in clinical practice. The paper focuses on the new biotechnologies able to detect human papillomavirus (HPV) such as nucleic acid hybridization assays, signal amplification assays, and nucleic acid amplification. Particular attention is given to the discussion regarding the differences among the biotechnologies used, such as Digene Hybrid Capture test using Hybrid Capture 2 technology and the Cervista HR-HPV assay. The scientific progress is emphasized by new markers such as cycline p16INK4a, viral oncoproteins E6 and E7, high-risk (HR) HPV genotyping, and dual test p16/Ki67. The results of the large ongoing studies conducted worldwide highlight these markers’ capacity to disclose the differences between transient and transforming HPV infection and mild abnormal cytologies which could spontaneously regress or develop into cancer. Although both screening programs and opportunistic screening concerning cervical cancer are used worldwide, major geographic differences exist nowadays as regards the access to these programs. Finally, to achieve the objective of this study, the recommendations of various guidelines available across Europe, United States, and Australia, as well as the diagnosis tests accessible to women in low-resource countries are presented.

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