Recent advances and problems in primary therapy for cervical cancer in Taiwan.

Cervical cancer is a serious health problem in Taiwan, with nearly 2700 women developing the disease each year. The estimated incidence of this disease from 1993 to 1997 was 21.8 per 100,000 woman-years. The lack of effective Papanicolaou smear screening systems was the major cause of the high prevalence rate before 1995. Surgery and radiotherapy are the standard treatments for early stage cervical cancer. For women with advanced stage cervical cancer, external-beam pelvic radiation followed by intracavitary radiotherapy is the treatment of choice. Although randomized clinical trials have shown that concurrent chemoradiotherapy should be regarded as the standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer (stage IIB to IVA), the impact of the complications associated with this treatment have not been evaluated in Taiwanese studies. Localized bulky (stage IB2 or bulky IIA) tumors are commonly treated with various combinations of chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy, despite unresolved concerns about the morbidity and effectiveness of this approach compared with definitive radiotherapy or radical surgery. Although about 60% of Taiwanese women with cervical cancer receive primary surgical treatment, about 20% do not receive treatment or receive non-standard therapies. Efforts are needed to increase the screening rate, to improve access to medical care, and to provide public education for patients to reduce the occurrence and mortality of cervical cancer in Taiwan.     

Cervical cancer control for Hispanic women in Texas: Strategies from research and practice

ObjectiveHispanic women in Texas have among the highest rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality in the country. Increasing regular Papanicolaou test screening and HPV vaccination are crucial to reduce the burden of cervical cancer among Hispanics. This paper presents lessons learned from community-based cervical cancer control programs for Hispanics and highlights effective intervention programs, methods and strategies.MethodsWe reviewed and summarized cervical cancer control efforts targeting Hispanic women, focusing on interventions developed by researchers at the University of Texas, School of Public Health. We identified commonalities across programs, highlighted effective methods, and summarized lessons learned to help guide future intervention efforts.ResultsCommunity–academic partnerships were fundamental in all steps of program development and implementation. Programs reviewed addressed psychosocial, cultural, and access barriers to cervical cancer control among low-income Hispanic women. Intervention approaches included lay health worker (LHW) and navigation models and used print media, interactive tailored media, photonovellas, client reminders, one-on-one and group education sessions.ConclusionsSmall media materials combined with LHW and navigation approaches were effective in delivering Pap test screening and HPV vaccination messages and in linking women to services. Common theoretical methods included in these approaches were modeling, verbal persuasion, and facilitating access. Adaptation of programs to an urban environment revealed that intensive navigation was needed to link women with multiple access barriers to health services. Collectively, this review reveals 1) the importance of using a systematic approach for planning and adapting cervical cancer control programs; 2) advantages of collaborative academic–community partnerships to develop feasible interventions with broad reach; 3) the use of small media and LHW approaches and the need for tailored phone navigation in urban settings; and 4) coordination and technical assistance of community-based efforts as a way to maximize resources.     

肉眼观察法在宫颈癌及癌前病变筛查中的应用

目的：探讨醋酸肉眼观察（VIA）和碘染色肉眼观察（VILI）在宫颈癌及癌前病变筛查中的可行性。方法：以天津市大港区2 003例妇女为研究对象,进行癌症综合知识、危险因素的问卷调查,用VIA和 VILI行宫颈癌及其癌前病变筛查。VIA或VILI阳性者行电子阴道镜检查,阴道镜检查异常者行阴道镜下宫颈活检,病理学检查明确诊断。结果：单纯VIA阳性者257例,VIA或VILI阳性者共计265例,其中197例阴道镜检查异常,在阴道镜指导下行宫颈活检,以病理学检查结果作为诊断的金标准,宫颈上皮内瘤变（CIN）的检出率为7.04%,其中CINⅠ116例,CINⅡ14例,CINⅢ11例。结论：在资源有限、经济欠发达的地区,由经过培训的医生实施VIA或VILI做宫颈癌初筛的方案可行。     

Cervical cancer in Canada: Changing patterns in incidence and mortality

Abstract. Liu S, Semenciw R, Probert A, Mao Y. Cervical cancer in Canada: Changing patterns in incidence and mortality.
Data on incidence of cervical cancer by histologic subtype and mortality for the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia were used to examine time trends by age, calender period, and birth cohort. Age-adjusted incidence rate of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix decreased from 11.1 per 100,000 women in 1970–72 to 5.3 in 1994–96, while the rate for cervical adenocarcinoma increased from 1.1 per 100,000 women to 1.5 over the same period. Age-adjusted mortality rate declined from 7.9 per 100,000 women in 1953–55 to 1.9 in 1995–97. The patterns in age-specific mortality rates in 1953–72 were different from those in 1973–97; younger women experienced larger reductions in mortality during the earlier period while older women benefited to a greater extent during the latter period. Age-period-cohort modeling showed that cohort effects were responsible for the decreasing trends in incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix and increasing trends in adenocarcinoma, and both period and cohort effects account for the observed trends in mortality. The results suggest that Pap smear screening has played a significant role in the reduction in squamous cell cervical carcinoma. The causes for the increase in cervical adenocarcinoma are unclear.     

Cancer of the Uterine Cervix and Screening of Aboriginal Women

Carcinoma of the cervix has not been widely reported as an important health problem for Aboriginal women. From four sources, we have studied cervical cancer death rates, abnormalities detected by cervical cytology screening, and the proportion of women who had been screened. First, from the Northern Territory for the years 1979-1983, we present a relative risk of 6.3 (95% confidence interval, 3.0-11.6) for cervical cancer deaths in Aboriginal women compared with all Australian women. Second, the screening and disease rates in Aboriginal women were profiled within a large laboratory in Victoria. Since 1984, a fourfold increase in the number of smears taken at Aboriginal health services is apparent. In women attending these services, a high rate of significantly abnormal smears is evident. Third, to study the extent of screening, we interviewed Aboriginal women in a Victorian country setting and fourth, we examined a random sample of medical records from an Aboriginal Health Service. The proportion screened at least once rose from 5/47 (11%) among women whose most recent consultation with the Health Service was during the years 1974-1980 to 51/170 (31%) women who attended from 1981-1987 (p less than 0.01). Aboriginal communities may interpret these trends favourably as they encourage their women to be screened regularly to reduce cervical cancer mortality.     

肉眼观察法在宫颈癌及癌前病变筛查中的应用

目的：探讨醋酸肉眼观察（VIA）和碘染色肉眼观察（VILI）在宫颈癌及癌前病变筛查中的可行性。方法：以天津市大港区2003例妇女为研究对象,进行癌症综合知识、危险因素的问卷调查．用VIA和VILI行宫颈癌及其癌前病变筛查。VIA或VILI阳性者行电子阴道镜检查,阴道镜检查异常者行阴道镜下宫颈活检,病理学检查明确诊断。结果：单纯VIA阳性者257例。VIA或VILI阳性者共计265例．其中197例阴道镜检查异常,在阴道镜指导下行宫颈活检,以病理学检查结果作为诊断的金标准,宫颈上皮内瘤变（CIN）的检出率为7．04％,其中CINI116例,CINⅡ14例,CINIII11例。结论：在资源有限、经济欠发达的地区,由经过培训的医生实施VIA或VIU做宫颈癌初筛的方案可行。     

HIV and cancer of the cervix

Cancer of the cervix is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide, and in some low resource countries accounts for the highest cancer mortality in women. The highest burden of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is currently in sub-Saharan Africa, where more than half of the people infected are women who have no access to cervical cancer screening. The association between HIV and invasive cervical cancer is complex, with several studies now clearly demonstrating an increased risk of pre-invasive cervical lesions among HIV-infected women. However, there have not been significantly higher incidence rates of invasive cervical cancer associated with the HIV epidemic. The highest numbers of HIV-infected women are in poorly-resourced countries, where the natural progression of HIV disease in the absence of highly active antiretroviral treatment sometimes results in deaths from opportunistic infections before the onset of invasive cervical cancer. This chapter will discuss the association of HIV and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, the treatment of pre-invasive lesions, and invasive cervical cancer in HIV-infected women. The role of screening and the impact of antiretroviral treatment on the progression of pre-invasive and invasive cancer will also be discussed.     

The combined impact of implementing HPV immunisation and primary HPV screening in New Zealand: Transitional and long-term benefits,costs and resource utilisation implications

BackgroundIn response to emergent evidence, many countries are transitioning from cytology-based to HPV screening. We evaluated the impact of an upcoming transition on health outcomes and resource utilisation in New Zealand.MethodsAn extensively validated model of HPV transmission, vaccination, natural history and cervical screening (‘Policy1-Cervix’) was utilised to simulate a transition from three-yearly cytology for women 20–69 years to five-yearly HPV screening with 16/18 genotyping for women 25–69 years, accounting for population growth and the impact of HPV immunisation. Cervical cancer rates, resources use (test volumes), costs, and test positivity rates from 2015 to 2035 were estimated.FindingsBy 2035, the transition to HPV screening will result in declines in cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates by 32% and 25%, respectively, compared to 2018. A potentially detectable 5% increase in cervical cancer incidence due to earlier detection is predicted for the year of transition. Annual numbers of women screened will fluctuate with the five-year screening interval. Cytology volumes will reduce by over 80% but colposcopy volumes will be similar to pre-transition rates, and program costs will be reduced by 16%. A 9% HPV test positivity rate is expected in the first round of HPV screening (2019–2023), with 2.7% of women referred for colposcopy. Transitioning from cytology to primary HPV cervical screening could avert 149 cancer cases and 45 deaths by 2035.ConclusionPrimary HPV screening and vaccination will reduce cervical cancer and resources use. A small transient apparent increase of invasive cancer rates due to earlier detection may be detectable at the population level, reflecting the introduction of a more sensitive screening test. These findings can be used to inform health services planning and public communications surrounding program implementation.     

Epidemiology of cervical cancer and human papilloma virus infection among Iranian women — Analyses of national data and systematic review of the literature

BackgroundFew studies have evaluated the epidemiology of cervical cancer in low risk Muslim countries, where the prognosis of cervical cancer is poor and which lack an organized cervical screening program. We studied incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer and the prevalence of high risk human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in the Islamic Republic (I.R.) of Iran.MethodsWe analyzed national cancer and mortality registration data and estimated age-standardized incidence (ASR) and mortality (ASMR) rates and age-specific patterns of cervical cancer. Furthermore, based on a systematic review we estimated prevalence of HPV infection in Iran.ResultsThe mean cervical cancer ASR was 2.5 per 100,000 in pathology-based cancer registries. However, ASRs were almost double in the population-based cancer registry and reached 6 per 100,000. The mean cervical cancer ASMR for Iran was 1.04 per 100,000. The mortality to incidence ratio was 42%. The cervical cancer incidence rate increased after age 30 and peaked between ages 55 and 65. The prevalence of HPV infection was 76% in cervical cancer patients and 7% among healthy Iranian women. Of the HPV types isolated, HPV 16 (54%), 18 (14%), and 31 (6%) were the most commonly detected in Iranian cervical cancer patients.ConclusionsAn organized prevention program is needed to fight against cervical cancer in Iran and other low incidence countries. We suggest a screening program starting after age 30 and with at least three screenings tests over each woman's lifetime. With a reservation on cost-effectiveness issue, available HPV vaccine will prevent HPV infection and cervical cancer in Iran.     

Trends in Uterine Cancer Mortality in the Americas, 1955-1988

Trends in uterine cancer mortality over the period 1955-1988 were analyzed for 14 selected Latin American countries and for the United States and Canada on the basis of the official death certification data from the World Health Organization database. In the late 1960s uterine cancer mortality in Latin America ranged from 7.8/100,000 in the Dominican Republic to 26.4/100,000 in Venezuela and was around 10/100,000 in the United States and Canada. Over the last two decades most Latin American countries (with the exception of the Dominican Republic and Ecuador) showed declines in mortality rates ranging from about 10% in Argentina and Mexico to 25-35% in Cuba, Chile, Uruguay, and Venezuela. These declines were however appreciably smaller than those in the United States and Canada, where falls in uterine cancer mortality approached 50%. In comparison with recent rates in the United States and Canada (around 5/100,000), mortality from uterine cancer was still high in all Central and South American countries (between 11 and 20/100,000), with the sole exception of Puerto Rico (6.3/100,000). The highest rates were in Paraguay and Ecuador (over 20/100,000). The overall variation in all age-standardized uterine cancer mortality in Latin America remained around threefold during the period 1965-1988 (i.e., between 22/100,000 in Paraguay and 6.3/100,000 in Puerto Rico). However, if the United States and Canada were also considered, the ratio between the highest and lowest mortality rate at all ages increased from about threefold during the period 1965-1969 to over four-fold in the late 1980s. This diverging pattern between North and Latin America was even clearer in young women (20-44 years), when most uterine cancer originates from the cervix, and less evident in the elderly. In the young, recent upward trends were observed in Argentina, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. These mortality patterns are discussed with reference to risk factor exposure, cytologic screening programs, changes in hysterectomy rates, treatment, and case ascertainment and certification.     

妊娠期宫颈癌筛查

妊娠期宫颈癌是严重影响母儿健康的围妊娠期合并症。了解妊娠期的生理特点与宫颈癌的关系,掌握不同妊娠期宫颈癌的特点及筛查方法,建立临床医师对妊娠期宫颈癌的筛查规范,加强妊娠期宫颈癌的早期筛查,对减少育龄妇女及围产儿病死率具有重要意义。     

Prevention of cervical cancer

This article reviews the burden of cervical cancer in South Africa and shows that it remains the most common cancer among South African women, particularly women with least access to cervical cancer screening. It explains the rationale behind the South African cervical cancer screening policy, which is to offer all asymptomatic women three free cervical smears in a lifetime, beginning at age 30, 10 years apart. Further, it illustrates that cervical cancer screening offers unique opportunities for prevention at both the primary and secondary levels. The causal association of human papillomavirus infection of the cervix and the possibility for vaccination against the virus is discussed. The history of screening in South Africa and why it has failed to make a major impact to date on the morbidity and mortality of cervical cancer is also discussed. Finally, possible alternative approaches to cervical cytology for the prevention of cervical cancer are briefly reviewed.     

Screening history preceding a diagnosis of cervical cancer in women age 65 and older

Objective

To characterize the antecedent screening of women 65 years of age and older diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Methods

Screening histories of women 65 years of age and older who were diagnosed with cervical cancer between 2003 and 2008 were examined utilizing the organization's databases and the regional Cancer Registry. Stopping screening was recommended at age 65 for members who had either 3 consecutive negative Paps or a single negative Pap plus HPV test (“cotest”).

Results

From 2003 through 2008 there were 56 Kaiser Permanente Northern California members 65 years of age and older diagnosed with cervical cancer. During the same time period there were 1,323,100 woman-years of membership in women age 65 and older. The risk of invasive cancer among women age 65 and older was 4.2/100,000/year in 2003-2008. 33 of 56 (59%) had one or more Pap smears prior to diagnosis. Of the 33, 14 women (25%) had 3 consecutive negative Pap smears prior to diagnosis. Three of 46,401 women with 1 or more negative cotests at age 65 and older were subsequently diagnosed with invasive cancer during 132,639 women-years of follow-up (2.3/100,000/year).

Conclusions

Most cervical cancers diagnosed at age 65 and older occur in women who have not met our criteria for stopping screening. A few cancers will continue to occur at age 65 and older despite multiple negative tests, as is true in other age groups. We currently have no evidence that these cancers would be prevented with continued screening at ages 65 and older.     

ACOG Practice Bulletin: clinical management guidelines for obstetrician-gynecologists. Number 45, August 2003. Cervical cytology screening (replaces committee opinion 152, March 1995)

Although cervical cancer was the leading cause of cancer death in American women as recently as the 1930s, both the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer have decreased by almost one half since the early 1970s, largely as a result of widespread screening with the Pap test. However, the annual incidence rate has remained at approximately 8 cases per 100,000 women over the past few years. New technology for performing cervical cytology is evolving rapidly as are recommendations for classifying and interpreting the results. The purpose of this document is to provide a review of the best available evidence on screening for cervical cancer. Specific equipment and techniques for performing cervical cytology and interpretation of the results are discussed elsewhere.     

内蒙古镶黄旗地区妇女宫颈病变筛查现状

目的探讨宫颈细胞学(包括巴式涂片及超柏氏薄层液基细胞学)及阴道镜检查筛查内蒙古镶黄旗地区妇女宫颈病变的现状及临床意义。方法2004年7月至2009年1月对内蒙古镶黄旗地区的642例28～67岁有性生活妇女进行宫颈病变筛查,其中557例妇女行传统宫颈巴式涂片法,85例妇女行宫颈超柏氏薄层液基细胞学,并对宫颈细胞学异常者(≥ASCUS)行阴道镜检查及活检。结果642例妇女中宫颈细胞学阳性(≥ASCUS)者34例,占5.3%(34/642),其中ASCUS者22例,占64.7%(22/34);低度鳞状上皮内病变(LSIL)者6例,占17.6%(6/34);高度鳞状上皮内病变(HSIL)者6例,占17.6%(6/34),其中有1例肯定为宫颈癌。宫颈细胞学阴性608例,占94.7%(608/642)。宫颈细胞学阳性34例人群中,行阴道镜活检病理检查者有25例,其中慢性宫颈炎13例(52.0%);CIN1为5例(20.0%);CIN2为4例(16.0%);CIN3为1例(4.0%);浸润癌为2例(8.0%)。结论应重视并及时进行经济不发达地区妇女人群宫颈病变的早期筛查,传统宫颈巴式涂片法及阴道镜活检及病理学检查为可行的筛查方法,有条件者可进行宫颈薄层液基细胞学结合阴道镜活检及病理学检查,对提高早期宫颈癌筛查的准确性效果明显。对内蒙古等西部地区,应在完善技术力量支持、筛查质量控制、建立筛查后的转诊制度及治疗的绿色通道等方面,以降低宫颈癌的发病率。     

Clinical impact of quality assurance in an organized cervical screening program.

BACKGROUND: We have studied whether clinical monitoring of an established population register based cervical screening program could reduce the number of cervical cancer cases and if drawbacks in the coverage could be detected. METHOD: A total of 123 consecutive cervical cancer cases were studied. A retrospective study of five years was followed by five prospective years after the introduction of increased efforts to find previously neglected low-grade positive smears. Cervical cancer incidence, histology, stage, and early mortality were related to smear history. RESULTS: The absence of cancer cases with neglected positive smears was a major reason for a 50 percent lower incidence of squamous cancers in the prospective period. Rapid onset interval cancers were few. Older women, never invited to the program, accounted for the majority of the advanced or aggressive cases in the former period. However, serious post-screening cancers remained common among women who had not had smears taken regularly up to the age of sixty, whereas there was little morbidity in women who had a regular smear to that age. CONCLUSION: This organized screening program is a versatile tool in identifying women at risk. To attain effectiveness it needs, however, active monitoring of the smear history and a mechanism to ascertain that all women have participated well beyond the age of fifty before being left out of the program.     

Cervical cancer in the developing world

In developed countries, systematic screening programmes have reduced the morbidity and mortality resulting from cervical cancer. Cytological methods of screening have been the mainstay in these countries. Nevertheless, there is scant evidence that cytology-based screening has had any effect in reducing cervical cancer mortality in less-developed countries. In fact, the challenge in less-developed countries is surpassed by the complex array of problems that go far beyond the introduction of simplified technologies. Currently, there are two main issues on this subject: the assessment of simpler screening methods, and the evaluation of different strategies regarding which women to target and the screening interval. Achieving high rates of coverage and compliance of the target population through high-quality procedures has remained the most difficult goal to achieve. Nevertheless, it is believed that creativity, flexibility and well-focused use of resources can reduce the inequitable burden of cervical cancer borne by women in poor countries.     

Application of the Carolina Framework for Cervical Cancer Prevention

ObjectiveThe Carolina Framework for Cervical Cancer Prevention describes 4 main causes of cervical cancer incidence: human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, lack of screening, screening errors, and not receiving follow-up care. We present 2 applications of the Carolina Framework in which we identify high-need counties in North Carolina and generate recommendations for improving prevention efforts.MethodsWe created a cervical cancer prevention need index (CCPNI) that ranked counties on cervical cancer mortality, HPV vaccine initiation and completion, Pap smear screening, and provision of Pap tests to rarely- or never-screened women. In addition, we conducted in-depth interviews with 19 key informants from programs and agencies involved in cervical cancer prevention in North Carolina.ResultsNorth Carolina's 100 counties varied widely on individual CCPNI components, including annual cervical cancer mortality (median 2.7/100,000 women; range 0.0–8.0), adolescent girls' HPV vaccine initiation (median 42%; range 15%–62%), and Pap testing in the previous 3 years among Medicaid-insured adult women (median 59%; range 40%–83%). Counties with the greatest prevention needs formed 2 distinct clusters in the northeast and south-central regions of the state. Interviews generated 9 recommendations to improve cervical cancer prevention in North Carolina, identifying applications to specific programs and policies in the state.ConclusionsThis study found striking geographic disparities in cervical cancer prevention need in North Carolina. Future prevention efforts in the state should prioritize high-need regions as well as recommended strategies and applications in existing programs. Other states can use the Carolina Framework to increase the impact of their cervical cancer prevention efforts.