Preferences and Experiences Regarding the Use of the Self-Sampling Device in hrHPV Screening for Cervical Cancer

BACKGROUND: To improve participation in the Dutch cervical cancer screening, a self-sampling device (SSD) was introduced in 2017 into the Dutch population-based screening programme (PBS) for the early detection of cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to gather potential preferences and experiences that might influence a woman’s decision to use the SSD in the Dutch PBS. METHODS: A scoping review was performed in the PubMed database. Studies that assessed preferences and experiences of women regarding the SSD were included, and preferences and experiences were extracted. In addition, in a qualitative study, the list of potential preferences and experiences specific for the Dutch PBS was extended based on semi-structured interviews with SSD users as well as non-SSD users who recently participated in the PBS, analysed in a structured manner by translating full sentences to key words. RESULTS: Ninety-eight studies were included in the scoping review and 16 interviews were performed. Frequently mentioned reasons for using the SSD, in both the interviews and the literature, were practicality and comfort. Frequently mentioned reasons for not using the SSD were fear of not performing the SSD procedure correctly and doubts on whether the results of the high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) test will be reliable. A new positive experience elicited in the interviews was accessibility. Negative preferences and experiences were not being aware the SSD was an option, and the inconvenience that after an hrHPV-positive test result of the SSD, an additional smear test at the GP is necessary. CONCLUSION: Several preferences and experiences play a role in the choice whether or not to use the SSD. Based on the currently found preferences and experiences, an app will be developed in order to assess which of these are the most important for women participating in the Dutch population-based cervical screening programme. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40271-021-00550-y

Molecular diagnostics to track patients who are likely to benefit from TRK inhibitor therapy

Remmers van neurotrofe receptortyrosinekinase (TRK)fusie-eiwitten hebben een hoge therapeutische activiteitin verschillende solide tumortypen zoals papillairschildkliercarcinoom, longadenocarcinoom, gastrointestinalestromatumoren, astrocytoom, en colorectaalcarcinoom. Alleen patiënten met een bewezengenfusieproduct van een NTRK-gen komen in aanmerkingvoor behandeling met specifieke remmers.Daarmee is de therapie de facto tumortype-agnostisch.De lage frequentie van verschillende fusies van éénvan de drie NTRK-genen in veelvoorkomende tumoren,maar hoge frequentie in zeldzame tumoren vraagt omeen specifieke aanpak voor de routinematige analysein de moleculaire diagnostiek. Hiervoor zijn verschillendemethoden beschikbaar en staat de moleculairediagnostiek voor een uitdaging om de detectie vanNTRK-fusiegenen op een tijd- en kosteneffectievemanier in te voeren. De voor- en nadelen van de verschillendemoleculaire technieken worden in dit artikelbesproken en een strategie voor NTRK-fusiegenanalysein de routine moleculaire diagnostiek wordt gepresenteerd

Micro-costing diagnostics in oncology:from single-gene testing to whole- genome sequencing

Purpose: Predictive diagnostics play an increasingly important role in personalized medicine for cancer treatment. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based treatment selection is expected to rapidly increase worldwide. This study aimed to calculate and compare the total cost of currently used diagnostic techniques and of WGS in treatment of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), melanoma, colorectal cancer (CRC), and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in the Netherlands. Methods: The activity-based costing (ABC) method was conducted to calculate total cost of included diagnostic techniques based on data provided by Dutch pathology laboratories and the Dutch-centralized cancer WGS facility. Costs were allocated to four categories: capital costs, maintenance costs, software costs, and operational costs. Results: The total cost per cancer patient per technique varied from € 58 (Sanger sequencing, three amplicons) to € 2925 (paired tumor-normal WGS). The operational costs accounted for the vast majority (over 90%) of the total per cancer patient technique costs. Conclusion: This study outlined in detail all costing aspects and cost prices of current and new diagnostic modalities used in treatment of NSCLC, melanoma, CRC, and GIST in the Netherlands. Detailed cost differences and value comparisons between these diagnostic techniques enable future economic evaluations to support decision-making

Cortactin expression predicts poor survival in laryngeal carcinoma

Amplification of the 11q13 region is one of the most frequent aberrations in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region (HNSCC). Amplification of 11q13 has been shown to correlate with the presence of lymph node metastases and decreased survival. The 11q13.3 amplicon carries numerous genes including cyclin D1 and cortactin. Recently, we reported that FADD becomes overexpressed upon amplification and that FADD protein expression predicts for lymph node positivity and disease-specific mortality. However, the gene within the 11q13.3 amplicon responsible for this correlation is yet to be identified. In this paper, we compared, using immunohistochemical analysis for cyclin D1, FADD and cortactin in a series of 106 laryngeal carcinomas which gene correlates best with lymph node metastases and increased disease-specific mortality. Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed that high expression of cyclin D1 (P=0.016), FADD (P=0.003) and cortactin (P=0.0006) predict for increased risk to disease-specific mortality. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that only high cortactin expression correlates with disease-specific mortality independent of cyclin D1 and/or FADD. Of genes located in the 11q13 amplicon, cortactin expression is the best predictor for shorter disease-specific survival in late stage laryngeal carcinomas

Implementation of Novel Molecular Biomarkers for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer in the Netherlands: How to Deal With Increasing Complexity

The diagnostic landscape of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is changing rapidly with the availability of novel treatments. Despite high-level healthcare in the Netherlands, not all patients with NSCLC are tested with the currently relevant predictive tumor markers that are necessary for optimal decision-making for today's available targeted or immunotherapy. An expert workshop on the molecular diagnosis of NSCLC involving pulmonary oncologists, clinical chemists, pathologists, and clinical scientists in molecular pathology was held in the Netherlands on December 10, 2018. The aims of the workshop were to facilitate cross-disciplinary discussions regarding standards of practice, and address recent developments and associated challenges that impact future practice. This paper presents a summary of the discussions and consensus opinions of the workshop participants on the initial challenges of harmonization of the detection and clinical use of predictive markers of NSCLC. A key theme identified was the need for broader and active participation of all stakeholders involved in molecular diagnostic services for NSCLC, including healthcare professionals across all disciplines, the hospitals and clinics involved in service delivery, healthcare insurers, and industry groups involved in diagnostic and treatment innovations. Such collaboration is essential to integrate different technologies into molecular diagnostics practice, to increase nationwide patient access to novel technologies, and to ensure consensus-preferred biomarkers are tested

De rol van moleculaire diagnostiek in het identificeren van patiënten die baat hebben bij TRK-remmer-therapie

Remmers van neurotrofe receptortyrosinekinase (TRK) fusie-eiwitten hebben een hoge therapeutische activiteit in verschillende solide tumortypen zoals papillair schildkliercarcinoom, longadenocarcinoom, gastrointestinale stromatumoren, astrocytoom, en colorectaal carcinoom. Alleen patiënten met een bewezen genfusieproduct van een NTRK-gen komen in aanmerking voor behandeling met specifieke remmers. Daarmee is de therapie de facto tumortype-agnostisch. De lage frequentie van verschillende fusies van één van de drie NTRK-genen in veelvoorkomende tumoren, maar hoge frequentie in zeldzame tumoren vraagt om een specifieke aanpak voor de routinematige analyse in de moleculaire diagnostiek. Hiervoor zijn verschillende methoden beschikbaar en staat de moleculaire diagnostiek voor een uitdaging om de detectie van NTRK-fusiegenen op een tijd- en kosteneffectieve manier in te voeren. De voor- en nadelen van de verschillende moleculaire technieken worden in dit artikel besproken en een strategie voor NTRK-fusiegenanalyse in de routine moleculaire diagnostiek wordt gepresenteerd

Clinical course of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis:Comparison between aggressiveness of human papillomavirus-6 and human papillomavirus-11

Background. Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is mainly associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) 6 or HPV11. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcome, aggressiveness, and treatment response between HPV6- and HPV11-associated RRP. Methods. A retrospective cohort of 55 patients with RRP (1974-2012) was used. Surgical interventions (n = 814) were analyzed, and complications scored. HPV6/11-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on RRP biopsies. Results. Seventy-six percent of patients (42 of 55) were infected with HPV6 and 24% (13 of 55) with HPV11. The HPV11 group had anatomically more widespread disease. The expected number of surgical interventions was higher in the younger age ( Conclusion. Anatomically, HPV11-associated RRP behaves more aggressively. Younger patients with HPV11 and older patients with HPV6 experience a worse clinical course of RRP. (C) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc