Molecular markers for diagnosis and prognosis in cervical neoplasia

PhD ceremony: Mr. J.J.H. Eijsink, 14.45 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Title: Molecular markers for diagnosis and prognosis in cervical neoplasia

Promotor(s): prof. A.G.J. van der Zee, prof. H. Hollema, prof. G.H. de Bock

Faculty: Medical Sciences

Population-based screening has reduced the incidence of cervical cancer significantly in Western countries, but there is still room for improvement. A test based on detection of DNA methylation appears to be an attractive tool for cervical neoplasia screening because gene promoter methylation marks an early event in cervical carcinogenesis. In this thesis a methylation test for cervical cancer using four methylation markers was developed and evaluated. The test has the potential to detect 95% of cervical cancers and 65% of high-grade premalignant lesions. It was also shown that the methylation test is feasible on cervico-vaginal lavages obtained by a self-sampling device. A self-sampling approach may be a useful alternative screening strategy because 30% of the Dutch women do not attend the screening programme, and almost half of the cervical cancer patients are diagnosed in this population.