Research from DCEG Study Informs New Cervical Cancer Prevention Standards
, by DCEG Staff
In September 2017, the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) released recommendations on new standards of colposcopy practice, based on many findings from DCEG research. These recommendations are the first in the U.S. for colposcopy, a cervical cancer prevention technique in which the cervix is inspected for signs of cancer or precancer. The expert working group that developed the recommendations was chaired by Nicolas Wentzensen, M.D., Ph.D., senior investigator in the Clinical Genetics Branch (CGB), along with Warner Huh, M.D., of the University of Alabama. Other CGB scientists on the committee included Mark Schiffman, M.D., M.P.H., senior investigator, Julia Gage, Ph.D., M.P.H., staff scientist, Michelle Silver, Ph.D., Sc.M., postdoctoral fellow, and Angela Liu, M.D., former post baccalaureate fellow and current NCI special volunteer.
The process of developing these new recommendations included an extensive literature review as well as a systemic review and meta-analysis of unpublished data. Practicing colposcopists were also surveyed to assess the current state of colposcopy in the U.S. Results from the DCEG-designed and -led Biopsy Study to Improve Detection of Cervical Cancer provided a large portion of the evidence used to create the new recommendations. By detailing standards for this practice, including terminology, risk-based colposcopic biopsy, colposcopy procedures, and additional tools that may improve colposcopy performance, the ASCCP seeks to improve cervical cancer prevention for women in the U.S.