Cervical Cancer (HPV) | From Symptoms to Molecular Diagnosis

What is cervical cancer? This is one of the most frequently searched questions related to women’s health.
Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide.
In most cases, human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a key role in its development.

What Is Cervical Cancer?

cervical cancer is a type of malignancy that develops in the cells of the cervix.
The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.

This cancer usually develops slowly over several years.
Precancerous cellular changes are often the earliest stage of the disease.

In more than 99% of cases, persistent infection with HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer.
For this reason, early detection is extremely important.

Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

In its early stages, this type of cancer is often asymptomatic.
As a result, many patients are diagnosed at more advanced stages.

As the disease progresses, the following symptoms may appear:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Bleeding after sexual intercourse
• Unusual or foul-smelling vaginal discharge
• Pelvic pain
• Lower back or leg pain in advanced stages

What Is HPV and How Is It Transmitted?

HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a large group of viruses with more than 200 different types.
It is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection worldwide.

HPV is mainly transmitted through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity.
Protective methods reduce the risk of transmission but do not eliminate it completely.

Most people will be infected with HPV at least once in their lifetime.
In many cases, the immune system clears the virus without treatment.

The Relationship Between HPV and cervical malignancy

Not all HPV types cause cancer.
Some types are classified as high-risk due to their association with malignancies.

HPV types 16 and 18 are the most important high-risk strains.
They are responsible for more than 70% of cervical cancer cases.

To fully understand what cervical cancer is, the role of HPV must be considered.
Persistent infection with high-risk types can lead to genetic changes in cervical cells.

Without timely diagnosis and treatment, these changes may progress to cancer.

High-Risk HPV Types

The most common high-risk HPV types include:

• HPV 16
• HPV 18
• HPV 31
• HPV 33
• HPV 45
• HPV 52
• HPV 58

Identifying these types is essential for patient management and follow-up.
Molecular diagnostic methods make this possible.

The Best Method for Diagnosing this disease

The best approach to diagnosing this type of cancer combines clinical screening with laboratory testing.
In recent years, HPV DNA testing has become increasingly important.

HPV DNA Test

The HPV DNA test detects the genetic material of the virus directly.
This method can identify high-risk infections earlier than traditional screening methods.

HPV Detection by PCR

PCR is one of the most accurate methods for detecting HPV.
It allows the identification of very small amounts of viral DNA.

Real-Time PCR for HPV

Real-Time PCR not only detects the virus but also measures viral load.
This helps evaluate infection severity and monitor disease progression.

Molecular Diagnosis of the condition

Molecular diagnosis of cervical cancer is based on detecting HPV DNA or RNA.
These techniques offer higher sensitivity and specificity than conventional methods.

Advantages of Molecular Diagnosis

• Early detection of infection
• High sensitivity and specificity
• Identification of high-risk HPV types
• Reduction of false-negative results

HPV Diagnostic Kits and Their Role in the Laboratory

Using validated and reliable diagnostic kits is essential for accurate HPV detection.
Real-Time PCR kits should demonstrate high sensitivity and specificity.

HPV Kits Provided by Fardad Azma Rad

Fardad Azma Rad supplies HPV diagnostic kits from AB Analitica (Italy) directly to Iran.
These kits include:

• REALQUALITY RQ-HPV HR Multiplex
• REALQUALITY RQ-HPV HR/LR Multiplex
• REALQUALITY RQ-Multi HPV Detection

These kits are based on Real-Time PCR technology.
They enable simultaneous detection of both high-risk and low-risk HPV types with high accuracy.

Conclusion

Understanding what cervical cancer is and how it can be diagnosed plays a crucial role in prevention and early treatment.

When detected early, cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers.
Awareness, regular screening, and advanced molecular diagnostic methods are essential.