SGO White Paper Explores HPV Vaccine’s Impact on Cervical Cancer Prevention

The Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) has published the first in a series of four papers on a variety of cervical cancer issues and topics that were the focus of its Forum “The Future Strategies for Cervical Cancer Prevention: What Do We Need to Do Now to Prepare,” held last September in Chicago. The paper, entitled “The Impact of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination on Cervical Cancer Prevention Efforts,” is featured in the August 2009 issue of Gynecologic Oncology. It includes data relevant to HPV natural history as well as excerpts from Forum discussions regarding the limits of current screening, the impact that eliminating HPV 16/18 through vaccination may have on rates of cervical precancer and cervical cancer screening, strategies to measure vaccine uptake and obstacles surrounding separate screening for vaccinated women.

In particular, the manuscript addresses the obstacles to cervical cancer screening and prevention arising from vaccination against HPV types 16 and 18. It suggests potential new directions for screening now that HPV vaccination has been adopted. Dr. Stewart Massad, the paper’s lead author and a member of the SGO Forum’s Organizational Committee, concludes that until population-based data on the performance of cytology, HPV testing, and alternate screening or triage interventions become available, modification of current screening guidelines would be premature.