False-positive Human Papillomavirus DNA tests in cervical screening: it is all in a definition

TY - JOUR

T1 - False-positive Human Papillomavirus DNA tests in cervical screening

T2 - it is all in a definition

AU - Rebolj, Matejka

AU - Pribac, Igor

AU - Lynge, Elsebeth

N1 - Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2011/1

Y1 - 2011/1

N2 - Aim: Based on data from randomised controlled trials (RCT) on primary cervical screening, it has been reported that the problem of more frequent false-positive tests in Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA screening compared to cytology could be overcome. However, these reports predominantly operated with a narrow definition of a (false-)positive test. The aim of this paper was to illustrate how the narrow definition affected the measured adverse effects of HPV DNA screening compared with cytology screening. Methods: In the European RCT data, we measured the impact of the narrow definition of a positive screening test on the published relative positive predictive values (PPV), an indicator of the relative frequency of false-positive screening tests. Results: Using the trialists' definitions of positive screening tests, HPV screening combined with cytology triage had relative PPVs of 0.87 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60-1.26) for ≥CIN3 based on Swedish RCT data, and 0.78 (0.52-1.16) for ≥CIN2 in the Italian Phase 1 RCT (25-34 years). These PPVs changed to 0.44 (0.30-0.64) and 0.51 (0.33-0.79), respectively, when all positive HPV or cytology screening tests were accounted for. In the Finnish RCT data, HPV screening using the cut-off point of ≥10 pg/ml had a relative PPV of 0.27 (0.15-0.50) for ≥CIN3, which changed to 1.84 (0.99-3.41). Conclusion: The relative PPV was incorrectly estimated in six out of seven studies. In three of those six studies, the relative PPV changed significantly after inclusion of the previously erroneously excluded false-positive HPV or cytology tests.

AB - Aim: Based on data from randomised controlled trials (RCT) on primary cervical screening, it has been reported that the problem of more frequent false-positive tests in Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA screening compared to cytology could be overcome. However, these reports predominantly operated with a narrow definition of a (false-)positive test. The aim of this paper was to illustrate how the narrow definition affected the measured adverse effects of HPV DNA screening compared with cytology screening. Methods: In the European RCT data, we measured the impact of the narrow definition of a positive screening test on the published relative positive predictive values (PPV), an indicator of the relative frequency of false-positive screening tests. Results: Using the trialists' definitions of positive screening tests, HPV screening combined with cytology triage had relative PPVs of 0.87 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60-1.26) for ≥CIN3 based on Swedish RCT data, and 0.78 (0.52-1.16) for ≥CIN2 in the Italian Phase 1 RCT (25-34 years). These PPVs changed to 0.44 (0.30-0.64) and 0.51 (0.33-0.79), respectively, when all positive HPV or cytology screening tests were accounted for. In the Finnish RCT data, HPV screening using the cut-off point of ≥10 pg/ml had a relative PPV of 0.27 (0.15-0.50) for ≥CIN3, which changed to 1.84 (0.99-3.41). Conclusion: The relative PPV was incorrectly estimated in six out of seven studies. In three of those six studies, the relative PPV changed significantly after inclusion of the previously erroneously excluded false-positive HPV or cytology tests.

KW - Adult

KW - Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia

KW - DNA, Viral

KW - Early Detection of Cancer

KW - False Positive Reactions

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Papillomaviridae

KW - Papillomavirus Infections

KW - Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

KW - Sensitivity and Specificity

KW - Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

KW - Vaginal Smears

U2 - 10.1016/j.ejca.2010.08.010

DO - 10.1016/j.ejca.2010.08.010

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 20833033

SN - 0959-8049

VL - 47

SP - 255

EP - 261

JO - European Journal of Cancer, Supplement

JF - European Journal of Cancer, Supplement

IS - 2

ER -