Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells Are Frequently Found in the Urine of Prostate Cancer Patients.

Prostate cancer is the third cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Its early and reliable diagnosis is still a public health issue, generating many useless prostate biopsies. Prostate cancer cells detected in urine could be the target of a powerful test but they are considered too rare. By using an approach targeting rare cells, we have analyzed urine from 45 patients with prostate cancer and 43 healthy subjects under 50 y.o. We observed a relevant number of giant cells in patients with cancer. Giant cells, named Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells (PGCC), are thought to be involved in tumorigenesis and treatment resistance. We thus performed immune-morphological studies with cancer-related markers such as α-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR), prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) to understand if the giant cells we found are PGCC or other urinary cells. We found PGCC in the urine of 22 patients, including those with early-stage prostate cancer, and one healthy subject. Although these results are preliminary, they provide, for the first time, clinical evidence that prostate cancers release PGCC into the urine. They are expected to stimulate further studies aimed at understanding the role of urinary PGCC and their possible use as a diagnostic tool and therapeutic target.

Screening for cervical cancer precursors with p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology: results of the PALMS study.

BACKGROUND: Pap cytology is known to be more specific but less sensitive than testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) for the detection of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+). We assessed whether p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology, a biomarker combination indicative of transforming HPV infections, can provide high sensitivity for CIN2+ in screening while maintaining high specificity. Results were compared with Pap cytology and HPV testing. METHODS: A total of 27,349 women 18 years or older attending routine cervical cancer screening were prospectively enrolled in five European countries. Pap cytology, p16/Ki-67 immunostaining, and HPV testing were performed on all women. Positive test results triggered colposcopy referral, except for women younger than 30 years with only positive HPV test results. Presence of CIN2+ on adjudicated histology was used as the reference standard. Two-sided bias-corrected McNemar P values were determined. RESULTS: The p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology positivity rates were comparable with the prevalence of abnormal Pap cytology results and less than 50% of the positivity rates observed for HPV testing. In women of all ages, dual-stained cytology was more sensitive than Pap cytology (86.7% vs 68.5%; P < .001) for detecting CIN2+, with comparable specificity (95.2% vs 95.4%; P = .15). The relative performance of the tests was similar in both groups of women: younger than age 30 and 30 years or older. HPV testing in women 30 years or older was more sensitive than dual-stained cytology (93.3% vs 84.7%; P = .03) but less specific (93.0% vs 96.2%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology combines superior sensitivity and noninferior specificity over Pap cytology for detecting CIN2+. It suggests a potential role of dual-stained cytology in screening, especially in younger women where HPV testing has its limitations.

Human papillomavirus genotype distribution in anal cancer in France: the EDiTH V study.

Anal cancer is a rare cancer but its incidence is increasing. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection seems to be associated with the occurrence of most cases. The genotype-specific prevalence of HPV in anal cancer was estimated to assess the potential benefit of HPV vaccination in France. Anal cancer histological specimens were retrospectively recruited in 2008 from 16 French centres and centrally tested for HPV genotyping using the INNO-LiPA assay allowing the detection of 28 genotypes. Results were analyzed according to age, gender, HIV status when available and histological diagnosis. A total of 366 anal cancer cases were analyzed among which 62% were females. Mean age at diagnosis was 54.8 years in males and 66.4 years in females (p < 0.001). HPV was found in 96.7% of cases, 72% being infected by a single HPV type. Presence of at least one high-risk genotype was observed in 91% of cases (96% in females and 83% in males; p < 0.001). HPV16 was by far the most prevalent genotype (75%), followed by HPV18, HPV52, HPV33, and HPV51 (4-6%). HPV16/18 alone or in association were found in 78% of all cases. HIV-positive cases had a higher proportion of multiple HPV infection than HIV-negative cases and a slightly different HPV type distribution with an under-representation of HPV16 and an over-representation of other types. Our results indicate that anal cancer rarely occurs in the absence of HPV and emphasize the predominant role of HPV16. The potential benefit of HPV vaccine on the occurrence of anal cancer should be further evaluated.

Analytical evaluation of the PapilloCheck test, a new commercial DNA chip for detection and genotyping of human papillomavirus.

Recently, a commercially available HPV DNA chip, the PapilloCheck test, developed by Greiner Bio-One, has become available for human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping. The PapilloCheck test is a PCR-based test using a new consensus primer set targeting the E1 HPV gene. HPV oligoprobes immobilized on a DNA chip allow for the identification of 24 HPV types from the amplified product. In the present study, the analytical performance of the PapilloCheck test is compared to the Linear Array HPV genotyping test (Roche Diagnostics). Cervical specimens collected in PreservCyt (Cytyc) solution and obtained from women who presented abnormal cytological findings were tested primarily by the Hybrid Capture 2 High-Risk assay (HC2-HR, QIAGEN). A total of 144 samples were selected according to the signal intensity obtained with the HC2-HR test, expressed as RLU/CO value, and divided into 4 groups as follows: [0-1] RLU/CO (negative HC2-HR result, 34 samples); [1-5] RLU/CO (positive HC2-HR result, 30 samples); [5-40] RLU/CO (positive HC2-HR result, 40 samples); >40 RLU/CO (positive HC2-HR result, 40 samples). The concordance levels between the HC2-HR test and each of the genotyping assays was similar (88.8%) and the crude agreement between these assays was considered as "good". The detailed analysis of the discrepant results confirmed a possibly high rate of false positive results of HC2-HR test in the 1-5 RLU/CO grey zone. Genotype-specific comparison analysis was limited to the 23 HPV types detected by both genotyping assays (HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 40, 42, 45, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, 70, 73 and 82). Of the 135 samples available for comparison, 91 (67.4%) showed absolute agreement between the assays (concordant genotype-specific results), 34 (25.1%) showed correspondence for some but not all genotypes detected by both assays (compatible genotype-specific results), and the remaining 10 (7.4%) samples did not show any similarity between the tests (discordant results). The majority of discordances were found in samples containing multiple HPV types and in samples harboring low amounts of HPV. For some HPV genotypes, there were slight differences in the detection rate between the two genotyping methods. The Linear Array test seemed to be more sensitive to detect HPV type 53 whereas PapilloCheck test seemed to be more sensitive to detect HPV type 56. For the other genotypes, including HPV types 16 and 18, the results obtained by the two methods did not differ significantly. In conclusion, this study shows that the PapilloCheck test and the Linear Array test give comparable results for detecting HPV in cervical specimens. However, these results also suggest that there is a need to standardize the type-specific sensitivity of genotyping methods and to evaluate their accuracy to detect multiple HPV infections. This would be a prerequisite for the use of genotyping assays in cervical cancer screening algorithms.

Linear array genotyping and hybrid capture II assay in detecting human papillomavirus genotypes in women referred for colposcopy due to abnormal Papanicolaou smear.

The main objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping in women referred for colposcopy due to abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) smear. A series of 248 women referred for colposcopy due to an abnormal Pap smear were analysed with the Roche Linear Array HPV genotyping test detecting 37 most frequent HPV types, and compared with hybrid capture II (HCII) assay for oncogenic (high-risk [HR] HPV) types as well as for p16INK4a expression using immunocytochemistry. All tests were performed in cervical samples collected in PreservCyt liquid media for liquid-based cytology (ThinPrep), and colposcopic biopsy and/or loop electro excision procedure cone biopsy was used as the gold standard. HPV16 was the single most frequent genotype (29/258; 11.7%), followed by HPV51 (4.4%), HPV66 (3.6%), HPV42, 52 and 56 (3.2% for all). Linear array genotyping test significantly predicts both abnormal colposcopy (odds ratio [OR] = 9.0; 3.12-25.93), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (OR = 9.6; 1.26-74.17) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3+ (OR = 29.3; 3.95-218.06). In detecting CIN3, linear array was equivalent (97.6%) to colposcopy in sensitivity (SE), both being superior to HCII (92.7%). Concordance between linear array and HCII was moderate (Cohen's kappa kappa = 0.547; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.435-659). Specificity (SP) and positive predictive value (PPV) of linear array were significantly improved, if only HPV16 genotype was considered. Performance in the best balance is obtained, when linear array and colposcopy are combined, giving 82.9% SE, 93.9% SP, 73.9% PPV and 96.3% negative predictive value (NPV) as predictor of CIN3+ (OR 74.5; 95% CI: 27.36-202.72). In conclusion, linear array for HR-HPV is a highly sensitive test (97.6%) with high NPV (98.9%) in detecting CIN3+ lesions. HPV16 genotyping alone significantly improves SP and PPV of this test in management of women with abnormal cytology.

Human papillomavirus genotype distribution in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in France and comparison with CIN2/3 and invasive cervical cancer: the EDiTH III study.

OBJECTIVES: In the present study (EDiTH III study), the genotype-specific prevalence of HPV in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) was estimated to predict the potential benefit of HPV vaccination in France. This prevalence was compared to that previously reported in France in high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2/3, EDiTH II study) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, EDiTH I study) to identify the genotypes preferentially associated with a progression to malignancy. METHODS: 397 smears with LSIL diagnosis (Preservcyt) were retrospectively collected in different centres in France and genotyped using the INNO-LiPA assay allowing the detection of 24 HPV genotypes. RESULTS: HPV was found in 98% of cases. The most prevalent genotypes in LSIL in France were HPV 66 (25%), HPV 16 (21%), HPV 53 (18%), 51 (17%) and 52 (14%). HPV 16 and/or 18 were present in 28% and HPV 6, 11, 16 and/or 18 in 33% of LSIL. The highest SCC/LSIL prevalence ratios were shown for HPV 16, 33 and 18. CONCLUSIONS: With a 95% vaccine efficacy on CIN1 and theoretical vaccine coverage of 100%, HPV vaccination might prevent 27% (with a 16, 18 bivalent vaccine) and up to 32% (with a 6, 11, 16, 18 quadrivalent vaccine) of LSIL cases in France. In this study, LSIL related to HPV 16, 18 or 33 are at highest risk of progression to malignancy and thus could require a stringent surveillance. Conversely, anxiety and over-treatment could be avoided in women with low risk of progression.

P16(INK4a) immunocytochemistry in liquid-based cytology samples in equivocal Pap smears: added value in management of women with equivocal Pap smear.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether p1l6(INK4a) immunocytochemistry (ICC) in liquid-based cytology (LBC) is useful with colposcopy in abnormal Pap smears. STUDY DESIGN: A series of 248 women with abnormal Pap smear were analyzed for oncogenic (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) types using the Hybrid Capture II assay and for p16(INK4a) expression using ICC on cervical samples in PreservCyt liquid media. Colposcopic and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) cone biopsy were the gold standard. RESULTS: p16(INK4a) ICC did best as predictor of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, with OR 12.18 (2.72-54.57) (p = 0.0001), showing 88.2% sensitivity (SE), 61.9% specificity (SP), 14.6% positive predictive value (PPV) and 98.6% negative predictive value (NPV). In sorting discrepant cases, p16(INK4a) ICC results in 100% SE and 100% NPV in detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 lesions among Pap+/biopsy- women. In atypical squamous cells undetermined significance (ASCUS) cytology, adding p16(INK4a) ICC improves specificity of colposcopy from 27.3% to 81.8% and PPV from 42.8% to 71.4%. Best performance is obtained with p16(INK4a) ICC and colposcopy: 83.3% SE, 81.8% SP, 71.4% PPV and 90.0% NPV. CONCLUSION p16(INK4a) is useful in sorting clinically relevant discrepant cases, and p16(INK4a) ICC significantly improves SP and PPV of colposcopy in management of ASCUS cytology.

Performance of the Roche AMPLICOR human papillomavirus (HPV) test in prediction of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in women with abnormal PAP smear.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the performance of a novel PCR-based assay (Roche AMPLICOR HPV test) in detection of cervical pathology as a part of management for abnormal PAP smear (MAPS) and in women participating in cervical cancer screening. STUDY DESIGN: Altogether, 504 women comprising 270 patients referred for colposcopy due to an abnormal Pap smear and another 234 women participating in cervical cancer screening (tested for comparison) were analyzed for oncogenic (HR) Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, and 68 using the Roche AMPLICOR HPV test in cervical samples collected in PreservCyt liquid media. Colposcopic biopsy and/or LEEP cone biopsy was used as the gold standard in the triage group, while liquid-based cytology (LBC) was the reference test in the screening group. RESULTS: The prevalence of HPV was significantly higher in the MAPS group (65.9%) than in the screening group (31.2%) (P = 0.0001). There was a poor concordance between the referral PAP and the current LBC, being only moderate in the screening series, ICC (weighted kappa) = 0.291 (95%CI 0.070-0.459) (P = 0.007), and almost poor in the MAPS Series, with ICC = 0.217 (95%CI 0.04-0.384) (P = 0.023). AMPLICOR HPV positivity increased linearly with the increasing grade of cervical lesions. In detecting high-grade (CIN2-3), colposcopy was the most sensitive test (96.5%), very similar to AMPLICOR (95.2%) (P = 0.731), while LBC with HSIL cutoff was by far the most specific test (99.5%) and showed the highest PPV (96.1%). NPV of colposcopy (97.2%) and AMPLICOR (96.7%) were similar (P = 0.839). Together with abnormal colposcopy and HSIL cytology, the AMPLICOR HPV test is a powerful independent predictor of high-grade CIN2-3, and as such suitable to replace cervical cytology in management of women with abnormal PAP test (MAPS). CONCLUSIONS: The Roche AMPLICOR HPV test is comparable to other HPV tests (HCII, PCR) in detecting CIN in MAPS. However, more data are clearly needed on the performance of AMPLICOR test in management of abnormal PAP and particularly as a screening tool.

PreservCyt transport medium used for the ThinPrep Pap test is a suitable medium for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by the COBAS Amplicor CT/NG test: results of a preliminary study and future implications.

The commercial COBAS Amplicor CT/NG test (Roche Diagnostic Systems, Meylan, France) is a sensitive and specific method for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis infections. This test currently consists of using a nucleic acid amplification method to detect C. trachomatis in first-void urine specimens and in endocervical swabs collected in 2-sucrose-phosphate (2SP) transport medium. We conducted a prospective study to determine whether the automated COBAS Amplicor CT/NG test can detect C. trachomatis in cervical specimens collected in PreservCyt transport medium (ThinPrep Pap Test; Cytyc Corporation, Boxborough, Mass.). PreservCyt medium is used to preserve cervical samples before the preparation of ThinPrep slides. We collected 1,000 cervical specimens from young women (age range, 15 to 25 years) during routine Pap smear tests. Only specimens with normal cytology and in which the gynecologist found no clinical evidence of urogenital infections were selected. The samples were stored in PreservCyt transport medium at 15 to 20 degrees C. C. trachomatis was detected in 22 of the 1,000 cervical specimens that had been stored in PreservCyt. To confirm the positive samples, the test was repeated on new endocervical swab specimens collected in 2SP transport medium. Only 9 of the 22 positive patients agreed to undergo this control, but all 9 retested positive. To evaluate the influence of storage conditions on the sensitivity of the C. trachomatis PCR test, all of the positive samples were stored at 15 to 20 degrees C in PreservCyt transport medium and were retested every 2 weeks for 6 weeks. C. trachomatis was successfully amplified from all 22 specimens for the whole 6-week period. The prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was 2.2% in our study population. These results demonstrate that PreservCyt transport medium is a suitable transport medium for detection of C. trachomatis by the COBAS Amplicor CT/NG test. The ThinPrep Pap Test may enable gynecologists to monitor for both cervical lesions and C. trachomatis infections with a single endocervical specimen.