Integrating Molecular Diagnostics into Cervical Cancer Screening: A Workflow Using FFPE Tissue Samples.

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Oncology
• Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

• Cervical cancer screening is vital for early detection of high-grade lesions.
• Traditional methods struggle to distinguish transient HPV infections from progressive ones.
• There is a need for improved diagnostic precision in cervical cancer screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of integrating molecular HPV testing into histopathological workflows.
• To improve diagnostic precision in cervical cancer screening using FFPE samples.
• To evaluate the utility of HPV genotyping and viral load quantification.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 55 FFPE cervical specimens.
• Automated DNA extraction and real-time PCR-based HPV genotyping (Seegene Anyplex II HPV28 assay).
• Correlation of molecular findings with histopathological diagnoses.

Main Results:

• HPV DNA detected in 56.4% of samples, with 21 genotypes identified.
• High viral loads correlated significantly with high-grade cervical lesions.
• Molecular testing reduced potential overdiagnosis in HPV-negative, morphologically suspicious lesions.

Conclusions:

• An automated molecular workflow for FFPE samples enhances cervical cancer screening.
• Integration of HPV viral load and genotyping improves risk stratification and patient management.
• The method shows potential for broader implementation and validation in multicenter settings.