A randomized, controlled trial has shown human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing with and without liquid-based cytology to be more sensitive but less specific than conventional Papanicolaou smears for detection of precancerous lesions of the cervix. The lead-time advantage of early detection of precancerous lesions by HPV DNA testing resulted in cervical cancer reduction; however, an increased detection of possibly regressive precancerous lesions could result in unnecessary treatment, especially in women aged 25–34 years.
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Acknowledgements
Dr. Castle was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National Cancer Institute. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the US Department of Health and Human Services, or the US Government.
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Castle, P. HPV testing for cervical cancer: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 7, 364–365 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2010.96
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2010.96
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