Researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi have found a simple blood test that can determine whether cervical cancer therapy is working effectively. The findings of the study have been published in the Nature group journal, Scientific Reports.
Liquid biopsies, which test blood for cancer-related DNA or cells, are becoming a useful way to detect and track cancer. In particular, cell-free HPV DNA found in the blood is showing promise as a marker to predict outcomes in cancers linked to high-risk HPV, like cervical cancer. But spotting these markers isn’t easy—it needs highly sensitive methods, said the researchers.
“This study looked at whether a technique called droplet digital PCR ( ddPCR), known for its accuracy, could be used to detect and measure HPV DNA in the blood of cervical cancer patients. The goal was to see if this could help monitor treatment and predict how patients might respond to it, both before starting therapy and during follow-up,” they added.
Blood samples were collected from 60 cervical cancer patients (Stages I–IV) at AIIMS, New Delhi, both before treatment and three months after completing therapy. Additionally, samples from 10 healthy individuals were included as controls. Plasma was separated from the blood and stored at −80°C. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was then extracted from 1 ml of plasma. Using a highly sensitive technique called droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), researchers tested cfDNA from 35 patients to check for the presence of high-risk HPV types—specifically HPV16 and HPV18. This helped in evaluating the potential of HPV DNA as a marker to monitor cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignancy among women worldwide
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. It is most commonly caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Early stages may show no symptoms, but advanced cases can cause abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, or discomfort during intercourse. Regular screening through Pap smears and HPV tests can help detect changes early.
In India, there were 127,526 cases and 79,906 related deaths due to cervical cancer. Common symptoms of cervical cancer include inter-menstrual bleeding, postcoital bleeding, and vaginal discharge. According to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), over 55% of cervical cancer patients are diagnosed at advanced stages.
Currently, pap smear-based screening programs are one of the most widely used diagnostic methods to detect cervical cancer. "While Pap smear-based screening programs offer a diagnostic method, their sensitivity is limited, especially in low-prevalence settings, with a mean sensitivity of approximately 58%, highlighting the need for more sensitive and specific biomarkers to detect asymptomatic recurrences," the researchers have highlighted in the study.
The researchers focused on the utility of circulating HPV DNA (ccfHPV DNA) as a prognostic marker in cervical cancer. Circulating cell-free HPV DNA (ccfHPV DNA) refers to fragments of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA that are released into the bloodstream by cancer cells, especially in HPV-related cancers like cervical cancer. These DNA fragments can be detected through blood tests, offering a non-invasive way to monitor the presence and progression of the disease. Measuring ccfHPV DNA helps doctors assess how well a patient is responding to treatment, detect possible recurrence early, and make more informed decisions about care.
"The use of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in this study provided the necessary sensitivity and precision, allowing us to detect and quantify ccfHPV DNA in plasma samples from Indian cervical cancer patients. The ddPCR approach demonstrated its superiority over traditional qPCR methods, which often lack the sensitivity required for detecting low levels of circulating DNA," the researchers have said.
Liquid biopsies, which test blood for cancer-related DNA or cells, are becoming a useful way to detect and track cancer. In particular, cell-free HPV DNA found in the blood is showing promise as a marker to predict outcomes in cancers linked to high-risk HPV, like cervical cancer. But spotting these markers isn’t easy—it needs highly sensitive methods, said the researchers.
“This study looked at whether a technique called droplet digital PCR ( ddPCR), known for its accuracy, could be used to detect and measure HPV DNA in the blood of cervical cancer patients. The goal was to see if this could help monitor treatment and predict how patients might respond to it, both before starting therapy and during follow-up,” they added.
Blood samples were collected from 60 cervical cancer patients (Stages I–IV) at AIIMS, New Delhi, both before treatment and three months after completing therapy. Additionally, samples from 10 healthy individuals were included as controls. Plasma was separated from the blood and stored at −80°C. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was then extracted from 1 ml of plasma. Using a highly sensitive technique called droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), researchers tested cfDNA from 35 patients to check for the presence of high-risk HPV types—specifically HPV16 and HPV18. This helped in evaluating the potential of HPV DNA as a marker to monitor cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignancy among women worldwide
Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. It is most commonly caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Early stages may show no symptoms, but advanced cases can cause abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, or discomfort during intercourse. Regular screening through Pap smears and HPV tests can help detect changes early.
In India, there were 127,526 cases and 79,906 related deaths due to cervical cancer. Common symptoms of cervical cancer include inter-menstrual bleeding, postcoital bleeding, and vaginal discharge. According to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), over 55% of cervical cancer patients are diagnosed at advanced stages.
Currently, pap smear-based screening programs are one of the most widely used diagnostic methods to detect cervical cancer. "While Pap smear-based screening programs offer a diagnostic method, their sensitivity is limited, especially in low-prevalence settings, with a mean sensitivity of approximately 58%, highlighting the need for more sensitive and specific biomarkers to detect asymptomatic recurrences," the researchers have highlighted in the study.
The researchers focused on the utility of circulating HPV DNA (ccfHPV DNA) as a prognostic marker in cervical cancer. Circulating cell-free HPV DNA (ccfHPV DNA) refers to fragments of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA that are released into the bloodstream by cancer cells, especially in HPV-related cancers like cervical cancer. These DNA fragments can be detected through blood tests, offering a non-invasive way to monitor the presence and progression of the disease. Measuring ccfHPV DNA helps doctors assess how well a patient is responding to treatment, detect possible recurrence early, and make more informed decisions about care.
"The use of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in this study provided the necessary sensitivity and precision, allowing us to detect and quantify ccfHPV DNA in plasma samples from Indian cervical cancer patients. The ddPCR approach demonstrated its superiority over traditional qPCR methods, which often lack the sensitivity required for detecting low levels of circulating DNA," the researchers have said.
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