Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 15, 2025
Methyl-binding DNA capture Sequencing for Patient Tissues
Published on: October 31, 2016
DNA-Methylation for Risk-Stratification of Women Without a Fully Visible Transformation Zone at Colposcopy: A
Karen Omann Binderup1,2, Joachim Boers3,4, Line Winther Gustafson1,5
1Department of Public Health Programmes, Randers Regional Hospital, UNICCA - University Research Clinic for Cancer Screening, Randers, Denmark.
Objective:
To evaluate the performance of DNA methylation markers for the detection of cervical precancer among screening-positive older women without a fully visible transformation zone at colposcopy (TZ3).
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Colposcopy clinics, Central Denmark Region, 2019-2021.
Population:
Women ≥ 45 years with a TZ3 at colposcopy.
Methods:
Participants referred for colposcopy due to an abnormal cervical screening test underwent cervical cytology sampling, biopsies and a large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ). Cytology samples were analysed for DNA methylation markers: FAM19A4/miR124-2, ARID3C/ARL5C and METloc001/METloc002 according to the manufacturer's instructions. LLETZ histology was the reference standard.
Main Outcome Measures:
Sensitivity and specificity of the methylation markers for cervical intraepithelial grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) and cervical intraepithelial grade 3 or worse (CIN3+).
Results:
Among 89 women (median age: 67.9 years), 31 (34.8%) had CIN2+ and 16 (18.0%) had CIN3+ detected. Sensitivity for CIN2+ was similar across markers, ranging from 74.2% (95% CI: 55.4-88.1) to 77.4% (95% CI: 58.9-90.4), while specificity was lower for FAM19A4/miR124-2 (39.7%; 95% CI: 27.0-53.4) compared to ARID3C/ARL5C (65.5%; 95% CI: 51.9-77.5) and METloc001/METloc002 (82.8%; 95% CI: 70.6-91.4). Sensitivity for CIN3+ was slightly lower for FAM19A4/miR124-2 (75.0%; 95% CI: 47.6-92.7) compared to ARID3C/ARL3C (87.5%; 95% CI: 61.7-98.4) and METloc001/METloc002 (93.8%; 95% CI: 69.8-99.8). Similarly, specificity was lowest for FAM19A4/miR124-2 (35.6%; 95% CI: 24.7-47.7), higher for ARID3C/ARL5C (60.3%; 95% CI: 48.1-71.5) and highest for METloc001/METloc002 (93.8%; 95% CI: 63.9-84.7).
Conclusions:
Methylation markers, particularly METloc001/METloc002, may be useful for risk-based management of women with a TZ3 at colposcopy.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04298957 (https://www.
Clinicaltrials:
gov/ct2/show/NCT04298957?term=NCT04298957&draw=2&rank=1).
