Detecting the virus HPV to predict the presence of cancer

In a recently completed pilot study, part supported by Oracle, researchers developed a novel blood test for detection of circulating HPV DNA- “HPV-detect”. This study has been published in the British Journal of Cancer (Br J Cancer, 2017. 117(6): p. 876-883).

This test has the potential to be used in patients to detect residual disease more accurately and conclusively then current procedures. The benefit of this would be a reduction in the number of patients undergoing unnecessary surgery, while making it easier to detect those patients who have relapsed.

Although the test has been developed, it needs to be analysed in a larger sample of patients before making a recommendation for its wider use in treatment. This research is the next step towards getting this test into clinical use.

Once HPV-detect has been validated in a larger population, the next step will be to implement it into clinical practice.

Dr Shreerang Bhide, said:

“Among cases of head and neck cancer, patients with HPV-positive disease tend to be younger and have better survival rates.

“As a result, these patients need to live with the effects of their treatment for longer.

“This research shows that a blood test for HPV DNA can be used to identify how patients have responded to treatment, and therefore has the potential to spare them unnecessary surgery and significantly improve their quality of life.”

Not only could this blood based screening and monitoring tool be of benefit to head and neck cancer patients but could also be used to detect circulating HPV DNA in all HPV driven cancers.