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December 2011
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New technologies for cervical cancer screening
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Dear Colleagues,
The insight in recent years into the causative link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer has opened the door to a national vaccination programme, which is now underway in the target age groups. The link may also have implications for the way that the NHS cervical screening programme is organised, as this month’s edition of Cancer Services Forum explains.
In his informative article, Jack Cuzick presents evidence for the validity of HPV testing as an adjunct to conventional cervical cytology. Of particular interest to those involved in the commissioning and organisation of cancer services, he proposes an algorithm for cervical screening, in which cytology is reserved for women who are HPV-positive, thereby reducing the demand on cytology services. Professor Cuzick also sheds light on the emerging technology of immunostaining, which may eventually have a role in cervical screening.
Given the practical limitations of cytology—the need for accurate sampling and the subjective nature of reporting—and the large number of women in the at-risk population, these new objective tests would appear to offer an attractive new way of approaching cervical screening.
Ian Watson, National GP Cancer Lead
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