Prospective study of cell-free HPV DNA as biomarker for prognosis and early detection of relapse in locally advanced cervical cancer

A prospective study at Karolinska Institute (Stockholm, Sweden) evaluated cell-free HPV tumor DNA (ctHPV DNA) in plasma samples as prognostic biomarker among patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). Of pretreatment plasma samples, 92.4% were positive for ctHPV DNA. Persistent ctHPV DNA at end of treatment or during follow-up was correlated with worse progression-free survival (p<0.001). The positive predictive value of ctHPV DNA status at early follow-up for predicting disease progression was 87.5% whereas th negative predictive value was 89.3%. ctHPV DNA was found in plasma before relapse was diagnosed on radiology who experienced relapse after complete clinical respons with median 315 days lead time. The authors conclude that ctHPV DNA in plasma is a promising prognostic biomarker in patients with LACC, useful for analysis of response to therapy and for early detection of relapse.