Prevalence and type distribution of human papillomavirus in cervical adenocarcinoma in Korean women

The persistence of HPV type-specific infections in patients following colposcopic examination: An observational study

AIM

High-risk HPV infection is a necessary but not sufficient factor for the development of precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. Beyond mere HPV positivity, the persistence of infection over time plays a crucial role. This study aims to evaluate the clearance and persistence rates of HPV 16 and 18 genotypes.

METHODS

The cervical cytology results were reported using the 2014 Bethesda System classification. The cervical cytology samples were analyzed using the Roche Cobas® 4800 HPV tests. Patients with any HPV genotype other than 16 or 18, those with missing data, those who were lost to follow-up, those who underwent excisional procedures or hysterectomy, and those with high-grade cervical dysplasia were excluded from this study.

RESULTS

Among 191 patients (mean age: 41.2 ± 0.6 years, 16.8% postmenopausal), the mean follow-up was 21.6 ± 0.7 months. No significant differences were found between the clearance and persistence groups in age, follow-up duration, cervical biopsy, or endocervical curettage results. However, HPV 16 had a higher persistence rate (28.2%), and abnormal cytology was more frequent in the persistence group (p = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

Around 25% of patients had persistent HPV infection. Close monitoring is essential for those with CIN 1 on initial colposcopy, as they may have a higher risk of progressing to high-grade dysplasia compared to those without dysplasia.

Retrospective analysis of cytology and high-risk HPV testing in 1067 endocervical adenocarcinomas and precursor lesions

BACKGROUND

Cytology and high-risk human papilloma virus (hrHPV) cotesting is the mainstay in the detection of cervical carcinoma.

METHODS

Endocervical adenocarcinoma (EAC) is divided into HPV-associated adenocarcinoma (HPVA) and HPV-independent adenocarcinoma (HPVI) by the World Health Organization classification (2020). The detection effect of cotesting is suggested to be different among EAC subtypes and precursors, but has not well-documented yet. In this study, the authors retrospectively analyzed cotesting among adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), HPVA, and HPVI. The cohort included 569 AIS and 498 EAC consisting of 371 (74.5%) HPVA, 111 (22.3%) HPVI, and 16 (3.2%) adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified.

RESULTS

The authors found that AIS patients were significantly younger than HPVA and HPVI (mean ± SD, years: 40.7 ± 8.6; HPVA, 44.8 ± 9.3; HPVI, 50.0 ± 11.3; p < .001) and had a higher prevalence of concurrent squamous intraepithelial lesions (75.5%, HPVA, 37.2%; HPVI, 12.6%; p < .001). The detection rate of hrHPV test or cytology was substantially higher in AIS and HPVA than in HPVI (97.7% and 90.2% vs. 16.5%, p < .001, or 71.1% and 71.9% vs. 60.7%, p = .042, respectively). Cytology and hrHPV cotesting was superior to a single test in the detection of EAC and AIS. The detection rate of cotesting amounted to 100% in AIS and 94.3% in HPVA but was substantially lower in HPVI (72.2%) (p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The authors conclude that cytology and hrHPV cotesting can maximize the detection effect for HPVA and AIS but is not optimal for HPVI.

Our experience diagnosing 225 patients with cervical glandular lesions: current technologies, lessons learned, and areas for improvement

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relative sensitivity of different methods for detecting cervical glandular lesions.

METHODS

A total of 225 patients with cervical glandular lesions diagnosed from January 2018 to February 2023 were retrieved from the pathology database of Guangdong Maternal and Child Health Hospital, and their clinicopathological features were reviewed.

RESULTS

Four human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes: HPV18, 16, 45, and 52, dominated all glandular lesions, and accounting for 74.10% of HPV-positive tumors. Furthermore, 36.89% of abnormal squamous cells were diagnosed as abnormal based on cytological examinations leading to the detection of cervical glandular lesions; only 16.89% were diagnosed based on the initial detection of abnormal glandular cytology. The most common abnormal cervical screening result was ASC-US on cytology (14.22%), followed by HSIL (11.56%). Only few number of patients were diagnosed with or suspected of having cervical adenopathy via a Pap test (18.22%). Nearly one-third of cervical glandular lesions cases were not detected on the Pap test; but were diagnosed upon cervical biopsy or based on the histological examination of ECC, LEEP, or CKC specimens. The LEEP or CKC biopsy specimens had negative margins in 49 cases (40.83%), while the margins were positive in the other 71 cases (59.17%). Five cases (10.20%) with negative margins still had residual lesions following total hysterectomy, and 19 (26.76%) with positive margins had no residual lesions after total hysterectomy.

CONCLUSION

The ability to detect cervical glandular lesions varies for routine HPV genotyping, Pap test, or biopsy/ECC, with different sensitivities and advantages and disadvantages for each method.

Infection status and survival impact of high-risk human papillomavirus in cervical adenocarcinomas: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Cervical adenocarcinoma (CAC) comprises a heterogeneous group of tumors that are not universally associated with HPV infection. As has been shown in other organs, it is becoming increasingly apparent that HPV status significantly affects the prognosis of adenocarcinoma. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the infection status of high-risk Human papillomavirus (hrHPV) in CAC and evaluate its impact on the survival of patients.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and Clinical Trials.gov were searched from inception to May 1st, 2022. Data on HPV infection status and survival outcomes were evaluated using STATA 16.0.

RESULTS

Seventy-one studies with 11,278 participants were included in HPV infection analysis and eight studies with 1099 participants were included in prognosis analysis. The HPV infection rate (including high-risk and low-risk) and hrHPV infection rate in CAC were 75% (95% CI 0.70-0.80, 6978 participants) and 75% (95% CI 0.70-0.81, 4906 participants), respectively. HPV-16 and -18 were the most common HPVs in CAC, with pooled infection rates of 37% (95% CI 0.33-0.41, 7848 participants) and 34% (95% CI 0.30-0.38, 7730 participants), respectively. hrHPV infection was associated with better overall survival (HR 0.23, 95% CI 0.11-0.47, 1013 participants), better disease-free survival (HR 0.18, 95% CI 0.07-0.43, 292 participants), better progression-free survival (HR 0.20, 95% CI 0.08-0.47, 271 participants) and less recurrence (RR 0.30, 95% CI 0.07-0.43, 181 participants).

CONCLUSION

HPV infection rates were high in CAC. HPV-16 and -18 had the highest infection rates in CAC. However, hrHPV infection was associated with better survival and less recurrence. Future studies should clarify the relationship between hrHPV infection and other prognostic factors and make reasonable treatment strategies for CAC with different HPV status.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

CRD42022319390.

Pembrolizumab plus GX-188E therapeutic DNA vaccine in patients with HPV-16-positive or HPV-18-positive advanced cervical cancer: interim results of a single-arm, phase 2 trial

BACKGROUND

Survival outcomes for patients with recurrent or advanced cervical cancer are poor. Pembrolizumab has been approved for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer, with an overall response rate of 14·3%. GX-188E vaccination has been shown to induce human papillomavirus (HPV) E6-specific and E7-specific T-cell responses and cervical lesion regression in patients with cervical precancer. We aimed to investigate whether a combination of GX-188E therapeutic DNA vaccine plus pembrolizumab showed antitumour activity against recurrent or advanced cervical cancer.

METHODS

In this open-label, single-arm, phase 2 trial, patients with recurrent or advanced, inoperable cervical cancer, who were aged 18 years or older with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 and histologically confirmed recurrent or advanced HPV-positive (HPV-16 or HPV-18) cervical cancer, and who had progressed after available standard-of-care therapy were recruited from seven hospitals in South Korea. Patients received intramuscular 2 mg GX-188E at weeks 1, 2, 4, 7, 13, and 19, with one optional dose at week 46 that was at the investigator's discretion, and intravenous pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks for up to 2 years or until disease progression. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate within 24 weeks assessed by the investigator using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 in patients who received at least 45 days of treatment 45 days of treatment with at least one post-baseline tumour assessment, and this is the report of a planned interim analysis. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03444376.

FINDINGS

Between June 19, 2018, and March 20, 2020, 36 patients were enrolled and received at least one dose of the study treatment. 26 patients were evaluable for interim activity assessment, with at least one post-baseline tumour assessment at week 10. At the data cutoff date on March 30, 2020, median follow-up duration was 6·2 months (IQR 3·5-8·1). At 24 weeks, 11 (42%; 95% CI 23-63) of 26 patients achieved an overall response; four (15%) had a complete response and seven (27%) had a partial response. 16 (44%) of 36 patients had treatment-related adverse events of any grade and four (11%) had grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events. Grade 3 increased aspartate aminotransferase, syncope, pericardial effusion, and hyperkalaemia, and grade 4 increased alanine aminotransferase were reported in one patient each. No treatment-related deaths were reported.

INTERPRETATION

Treatment with GX-188E therapeutic vaccine plus pembrolizumab for patients with recurrent or advanced cervical cancer was safe and treatment-related adverse events were manageable. This combination therapy showed preliminary antitumour activity in this interim analysis, which could represent a new potential treatment option for this patient population. This trial is ongoing.

FUNDING

National OncoVenture.

Invasive stratified mucin-producing carcinoma (i-SMILE) of the uterine cervix: report of a case series and review of the literature indicating poor prognostic subtype of cervical adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

Invasive stratified mucin-producing carcinoma (i-SMILE) represents a recently recognized subtype of cervical adenocarcinoma (AC) developing in a background of a stratified mucin-producing intraepithelial lesion (SMILE). Clinical and prognostic data on i-SMILE are limited.

METHODS

We report a series of five cases with histopathological, immunohistochemical (p16) and PCR analyses. The cases as well as the patients previously published in the literature were reviewed for follow-up information.

RESULTS

Thirteen cases were identified. The mean age of 47.1 years (range 34-66) was not different from the usual type of cervical AC. 10/13 cases presented with tumors > 2 cm and a polypoid-exophytic appearance. Regardless of tumor size and stage of the disease, 7 out of 11 patients developed recurrent disease after a mean of 7.8 months (range 6 weeks-36 months). Five patients developed distant metastases (three of them in the lungs). Five out of the 11 informative cases died of the disease. All reported cases were positive for high-risk HPV (mainly HPV type 18) and associated with p16-overexpression.

CONCLUSION

i-SMILE represent a distinct subtype of invasive endocervical AC, associated high-risk HPV infection and strong p16-overexpression. Clinically, i-SMILE may represent an aggressive tumor with early recurrent disease and substantial risk of distant metastatic disease, especially to the lungs.

Human papillomavirus genotypes in Pacific Islander cervical cancer patients

Objective

The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the development of invasive cervical cancers is widely known. Few HPV studies have targeted geographically isolated regions. The objective of this study was to determine the HPV genotypes in cervical cancer patients from the Pacific Islands referred to Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC).

Methods

All cases of invasive cervical cancer treated at TAMC through the Pacific Island Health Care Project between January 2004 and October 2014 were identified through a review of pathology specimens. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue blocks. PCR was performed using PLEX-ID plates to isolate and amplify HPV-specific DNA. Mass spectrometry was subsequently performed to identify specific HPV genotypes.

Results

Thirty-five patients had their pathology specimens analyzed. Ten patients had localized disease (Stage 1); 21 had regional disease (Stages 2 and 3); and 4 had distant disease (Stage 4). Thirty-three squamous cell carcinomas and 3 adenocarcinomas were identified. The most common HPV subtypes found were 16 (6, 24%), 45 (6, 24%), and 52 (6, 24%). Other HPV subtypes isolated included 18 (1, 4%), 33 (3, 12%), 39 (2, 8%), 54 (1, 4%), and 67 (1, 4%). In 10 samples, HPV was not isolated.

Conclusion

Pacific Islanders referred to TAMC present with a disproportionally higher rate of regional and advanced disease. Significantly, only 28% of invasive cervical cancers in the Pacific Island population sampled could have been potentially be prevented using the available quadrivalent vaccine targeting HPV 16/18; however, 88% could be covered by the recently licensed nonavalent vaccine.

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The most frequent HPV subtypes found were 16, 45, and 52.

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Other less common HPV subtypes isolated included 18, 33, 39, 54, and 67.

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Combined HPV 16 and 18 were isolated in only 28% of cervical cancers from the Pacific Islands.

The variable clinicopathological categories and role of human papillomavirus in cervical adenocarcinoma: A hospital based nation-wide multi-center retrospective study across China

We investigated HPV in adenocarcinoma presenting and managed as cervical adenocarcinoma (CADC) at seven major representative regional cancer centres across China. From 1,051 CADC cases diagnosed locally in 2005-2010, 881 had available paraffin embedded tissue. Initial review excluded 154 cases as other diagnoses or inappropriate specimens. In 718 eligible cases consensus panel pathology diagnosis was made using an algorithm incorporating p16 and progesterone receptor immunohistochemistry (IHC). Classification of cervical adenocarcinoma categories was subject to substantial pathological disagreement. High-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV) DNA was studied by the sensitive SPF10 PCR-DEIA-LiPA25 version 1 for L1 genes and type-specific HR-HPV E6/7 gene PCR's. HR-HPV prevalence in whole tissue samples in eligible tested CADC was 74.5%: 100.0% in neuro-endocrine carcinoma (NEC), 82.2% in classical cervical adenocarcinoma (ADC-CX), 40.0% in adenocarcinoma-not otherwise specified (ADC-NOS) and 33.3% in endometrioid adenocarcinoma (ADC-ENDO). Higher mean age at diagnosis correlated with histological categories showing low HPV prevalence (Linear regression: β= -13.794, p < 0.001). HPV-16 and 18 were associated with early development of CADC and a lower mean age correlated with carcinogenic risk of associated HPV (β = -0.1829, p < 0.001). HPV-16 or HPV-18 was found in 88.2% of all HPV positive cases including multiple-infections. HPV-18 was the commonest HPV type in NEC (58.3%), ASC (40.2%) and ADC-CX (40.9%). The proportion of HPV-unrelated CADC and in different final histological categories varied geographically and by age. Although HPV negativity was predominantly associated with special categories of CADC, some HPV-negative usual adenocarcinomas indistinguishable by adjudicated microscopic diagnosis from ADC-CX were found and varied in frequency across China.

The complex relationship between human papillomavirus and cervical adenocarcinoma

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is reported in 60-100% of cervical adenocarcinoma (CADC) globally. We investigated this relationship in a hospital-based survey in China. 718 CADC samples from nine Chinese regions were analysed. Expert pathologists reviewed cases with p16 and progesterone receptor immunostaining. Cases were tested for HPV using whole-tissue sections (WTS) and laser-capture microdissection. All cases were HPV-tested by L1 based broad-spectrum SPF10 -DEIA-LiPA25 PCR. Negative cases were tested for DNA adequacy and with E6 oncogene, type-specific HPV PCRs. Using WTS-PCR CADC showed overall 75% HPV-positivity (33-100% for different histological types). LCM-PCR showed that none of minimal deviation or serous CADC, and <10% of all clear cell and endometrioid CADC were HPV-positive in tumour cells. Usual and adenosquamous CADC showed a single HPV genotype in 60 and 78% cases. In some cases, HPV was found in adjacent cervix but not in tumour. HPV 16, 18 and 45 accounted for 90% of HPV in tumour cells. Patients with HPV-positive tumours were on average 6 years younger and presented at a lower clinicopathological stage as compared to patients with HPV-negative cancers. CADC is diverse pathologically and in HPV status. Special histopathological tumor subtypes may develop through different cellular and molecular pathways. Between 20 and 40% usual and adenosquamous types, in particular these diagnosed in older women and at advanced FIGO stages, are not driven by oncogenic HPV. In these cases HPV may not be involved in carcinogenisis or maybe lost during tumour progression.

Human papillomavirus prevalence and type-distribution in cervical glandular neoplasias: Results from a European multinational epidemiological study

Cervical glandular neoplasias (CGN) present a challenge for cervical cancer prevention due to their complex histopathology and difficulties in detecting preinvasive stages with current screening practices. Reports of human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and type-distribution in CGN vary, providing uncertain evidence to support prophylactic vaccination and HPV screening. This study [108288/108290] assessed HPV prevalence and type-distribution in women diagnosed with cervical adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS, N = 49), adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC, N = 104), and various adenocarcinoma subtypes (ADC, N = 461) from 17 European countries, using centralised pathology review and sensitive HPV testing. The highest HPV-positivity rates were observed in AIS (93.9%), ASC (85.6%), and usual-type ADC (90.4%), with much lower rates in rarer ADC subtypes (clear-cell: 27.6%; serous: 30.4%; endometrioid: 12.9%; gastric-type: 0%). The most common HPV types were restricted to HPV16/18/45, accounting for 98.3% of all HPV-positive ADC. There were variations in HPV prevalence and ADC type-distribution by country. Age at diagnosis differed by ADC subtype, with usual-type diagnosed in younger women (median: 43 years) compared to rarer subtypes (medians between 57 and 66 years). Moreover, HPV-positive ADC cases were younger than HPV-negative ADC. The six years difference in median age for women with AIS compared to those with usual-type ADC suggests that cytological screening for AIS may be suboptimal. Since the great majority of CGN are HPV16/18/45-positive, the incorporation of prophylactic vaccination and HPV testing in cervical cancer screening are important prevention strategies. Our results suggest that special attention should be given to certain rarer ADC subtypes as most appear to be unrelated to HPV.

HPV prevalence and genotypes in different histological subtypes of cervical adenocarcinoma, a worldwide analysis of 760 cases

The goal of our study was to provide comprehensive data on the worldwide human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype distribution in patients with invasive cervical adenocarcinoma in correlation with histologic tumor subtypes, geographical location, patients' age, and duration of sample storage. Paraffin-embedded samples of 760 cervical adenocarcinoma cases were collected worldwide. A three-level pathology review of cases was performed to obtain consensus histologic diagnoses and 682 cases were determined to be eligible for further analysis. HPV DNA detection and genotyping was performed using SPF-10/DEIA/LiPA(25) system (version 1). Classic cervical adenocarcinoma accounted for 83.1% of cases, while rare histological variants accounted for a few percent of cases individually. HPV positivity varied significantly between the different histologic tumor subtypes. Classic cervical adenocarcinoma showed high HPV positivity (71.8%), while other adenocarcinoma types had significantly lower HPV prevalence (endometrioid 27.3%, serous 25%, clear cell 20%, not otherwise specified 13.9%, and minimal deviation 8.3%). In all, 91.8% of HPV-positive tumors showed the presence of a single viral type and in 7% of cases multiple viral types were detected. Three HPV genotypes, HPV 16, 18, and 45, dominated in all adenocarcinomas and together accounted for 94.1% of HPV-positive tumors. HPV16 was the most common and found in 50.9% of HPV-positive cases, followed by HPV18 (31.6%) and HPV45 (11.6%). HPV prevalence varied depending on geographical region, patient age, and sample storage time. Tumors from older patients and tumor samples with longer storage time showed lower HPV prevalence. Our results indicate that HPV vaccines may prevent up to 82.5% (HPV16/18) and up to 95.3% (9-valent vaccine) of HPV-positive cervical adenocarcinomas, mostly the classic type. HPV testing and vaccination will not provide full coverage for a very small subset of classical adenocarcinomas and most of the rare tumor variants such as clear cell, serous, endometrioid, and minimal deviation.

Persistence, clearance and reinfection regarding six high risk human papillomavirus types in Colombian women: a follow-up study

BACKGROUND

The design of new healthcare schemes which involve using molecular HPV screening means that both persistence and clearance data regarding the most prevalent types of HR-HPV occurring in cities in Colombia must be ascertained.

METHODS

This study involved 219 HPV positive women in all of whom 6 types of HR-HPV had been molecularly identified and quantified; they were followed-up for 2 years. The Kaplan-Meier survival function was used for calculating the time taken for the clearance of each type of HPV. The role of a group of independent variables concerning the time taken until clearance was evaluated using a Cox proportional-hazards regression model or parametric (log-logistic) methods when necessary. Regarding viral load, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for measuring the difference of medians for viral load for each type, according to the state of infection (cleared or persistent). The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for evaluating the change in the women's colposcopy findings at the start of follow-up and at the end of it (whether due to clearance or the end of the follow-up period).

RESULTS

It was found that HPV-18 and HPV-31 types had the lowest probability of becoming cleared (1.76 and 2.75 per 100 patients/month rate, respectively). Women from Colombian cities other than Bogotá had a greater probability of being cleared if they had HPV-16 (HR 2.58: 1.51-4.4 95% CI) or HPV-58 (1.79 time ratio: 1.33-2.39 95% CI) infection. Regarding viral load, HPV-45-infected women having 1 × 106 to 9.99 × 109 viral copies had better clearance compared to those having greater viral loads (1.61 time ratio: 1.01-2.57 95% CI). Lower HPV-31 viral load values were associated with this type's persistence and changes in colposcopy findings for HPV-16 gave the worst prognosis in women having low absolute load values.

CONCLUSIONS

HPV infection clearance in this study was related to factors such as infection type, viral load and the characteristics of the cities from which the women came. Low viral load values would indicate viral persistence and a worse prognosis regarding a change in colposcopy findings.

Estimate of the global burden of cervical adenocarcinoma and potential impact of prophylactic human papillomavirus vaccination

Background

Data on the current burden of adenocarcinoma (ADC) and histology-specific human papillomavirus (HPV) type distribution are relevant to predict the future impact of prophylactic HPV vaccines.

Methods

We estimate the proportion of ADC in invasive cervical cancer, the global number of cases of cervical ADC in 2015, the effect of cervical screening on ADC, the number of ADC cases attributable to high-risk HPV types -16, -18, -45, -31 and -33, and the potential impact of HPV vaccination using a variety of data sources including: GLOBOCAN 2008, Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5) Volume IX, cervical screening data from the World Health Organization/Institut Català d'Oncologia Information Centre on HPV and cervical cancer, and published literature.

Results

ADC represents 9.4% of all ICC although its contribution varies greatly by country and region. The global crude incidence rate of cervical ADC in 2015 is estimated at 1.6 cases per 100,000 women, and the projected worldwide incidence of ADC in 2015 is 56,805 new cases. Current detection rates for HPV DNA in cervical ADC tend to range around 80–85%; the lower HPV detection rates in cervical ADC versus squamous cell carcinoma may be due to technical artefacts or to misdiagnosis of endometrial carcinoma as cervical ADC. Published data indicate that the five most common HPV types found in cervical ADC are HPV-16 (41.6%), -18 (38.7%), -45 (7.0%), -31 (2.2%) and -33 (2.1%), together comprising 92% of all HPV positive cases. Future projections using 2015 data, assuming 100% vaccine coverage and a true HPV causal relation of 100%, suggest that vaccines providing protection against HPV-16/18 may theoretically prevent 79% of new HPV-related ADC cases (44,702 cases annually) and vaccines additionally providing cross-protection against HPV-31/33/45 may prevent 89% of new HPV-related ADC cases (50,769 cases annually).

Conclusions

It is predicted that the currently available HPV vaccines will be highly effective in preventing HPV-related cervical ADC.