Significance of human papillomavirus E7 protein testing in triaging patients with cervical atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance / 肿瘤研究与临床

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the significance of human papillomavirus (HPV) E7 protein testing in triaging patients with cervical atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS).Methods:The data of 205 ASCUS patients confirmed by liquid-based thin-layer cytology technique (TCT) detection in Kunshan Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from March to December 2018 was collected. The HPV E7 protein in cervical exfoliated cells was tested by cellular immunochemistry in the remaining specimens after TCT detection, and the colposcopy and cervical biopsy pathological examination were performed. The results of histopathological examination were used as the gold standard to analyze the efficacy of HPV E7 protein cytology testing in diagnosis of cervical lesions.Results:Among the 205 patients, cervical biopsy histopathological examination revealed 144 cases (70.24%) of cervicitis, 32 cases (15.61%) of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), and 29 cases (14.15%) of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). The positive rates of HPV E7 protein in cervical exfoliated cells of patients with cervicitis, LSIL and HSIL were 10.42% (15/144), 75.00% (24/32) and 86.21% (25/29), respectively, the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 97.940, P < 0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of HPV E7 protein for diagnosis of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions in ASCUS were 80.33% (49/61) and 89.58% (129/144), respectively. Conclusion:HPV E7 protein testing can better triage patients with ASCUS, reduce unnecessary colposcopy and biopsy, find potential high-grade lesions in time, and avoid misdiagnosis of high-risk patients.