New Test Could Spot a Tough-to-Detect Cervical Cancer
U.S. News & World Report By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Sept. 7, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- A new test detects a type of cervical cancer often missed by a standard Pap test, providing an important advance in detection.
The test was developed by scientists at Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center in New York City.
Our novel test appears sensitive for detecting cervical adenocarcinoma [ADC] which now accounts for up to 25% of cervical cancer cases as well as its precursor lesions, adenocarcinoma in situ [AIS], that often develop into ADCs, said researcher Dr. Howard Strickler of the cancer center.
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Because ADCs are often missed by current screening methods, they have higher [death] rates than the more common cervical squamous cell cancer, Strickler added in a cancer center news release. Our goal is to catch the disease early, before it develops into cancer.
While widespread use of the Pap test has significantly reduced cervical squamous cell cancer over the past 60 years, cases of ADC have not decreased, likely because the Pap test is less effective at detecting it.
