Results from a new study involving nearly 40,000 women found that human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing in addition to Pap smear prevented more cervical cancer cases than Pap smear alone.

The trial randomized women in the Netherlands, ages 29-56, into two groups at baseline: One received HPV and cytology co- testing, and the other group received cytology testing alone. Five years later, both groups received co-testing.

Women co-tested at baseline had fewer cases of cervical abnormalities and cancers than women who had only Pap smears. "Our results lend support to the use of HPV DNA testing for all women aged 29 years and older," concluded study leader Dr. Chris J.L.M. Meijer, of Amsterdam-based VU University Medical Center, and colleagues.

The full study, "Human Papillomavirus Testing for the Detection of High-Grade Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Cancer: Final Results of the POBASCAM Randomized Controlled Trial," was published online ahead of the regular issue of Lancet Oncology (2011;doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(11)70296-0).

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