Optimization of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women Living With HIV in Latin American Countries

The overall goal of this research is to develop a point of care hrHPV test and molecular testing that optimizes specificity to detect high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) (namely cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse, CIN 2+) in WLWH in Latin America while maintaining high test sensitivity. To accomplish this goal, we propose to conduct a trial that optimizes cervical screening by modifying the cycle threshold/genotype interpretation of Xpert HPV assay output. In a secondary manner, we will also evaluate whether triage with host DNA methylation improves the specificity of Xpert alone.

The hypotheses for this protocol includes:

• The Xpert HPV test can be optimized for HSIL detection (CIN2+) in WLWH to significantly improve test specificity, when compared to unmodified test output using manufacturer guidelines.

To evaluate this hypothesis, we will enroll 1000 women aged 25-65 years living with HIV who are undergoing routine cervical cancer screening. These individuals will be recruited from affiliated clinical sites of the Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública in Cuernavaca, Mexico and Universidade de São Paulo in São Paulo, Brazil. Participants will provide a first void urine sample and will be instructed how to self-collect a vaginal swab. An oral gargle specimen will be collected for HPV testing, host DNA methylation, and Epstein-Bar Virus (EBV) co-infection. They will receive a baseline questionnaire about risk factors for HPV and cervical cancer, and provide blood specimens for cluster of differentiation 4/8 (CD4/CD8) count, plasma viral load, as well as future DNA methylation of biological aging and circulating tumor HPV DNA (ctHPVDNA) analysis, and stored sera. Next, a provider will collect an anal swab. Then the participant will undergo a speculum exam, and a provider will collect a cervical cytobroom sample for cytology and HPV testing followed by a swab for stored specimens. Then at least two cervical biopsies will be obtained.

Material from one provider-collected cervical swab will undergo cervical cytology assessment using Bethesda Criteria. Cervical histology results from the collected biopsies will be interpretated according to the Lower Anogenital Squamous Terminology (LAST). HSIL will be defined as CIN 2 with diffuse p16 staining, CIN 2-3, or CIN 3. Women diagnosed with HSIL will be treated according to local standards. The local histology result will be used for the management of participants. Any lesions suspicious for invasive cancer will be referred to the appropriate specialist. Women with HSIL on cytology, but no HSIL on histology will be treated according to the local standard. The management options include repeat colposcopy, endocervical curettage, or a diagnostic loop electro-excision procedure. Similarly, women with a Type 3 transformation zone should have endocervical curettage and be managed according to local standards. After local pathology review, all histology specimens will be shipped centrally for Histology Endpoint Adjudication; these adjudicated histology results will be used for reporting research findings. Discordance between the local and central pathology review will be adjudicated with a second central pathologist. The final histology result will be sent back to the local site and provided to the participant and their providers. Women found to have vulvar, vaginal or perianal lesions suspicious for HSIL will be referred for appropriate evaluation.

The self-collected vaginal swab and material from the provider-collected cytobroom sample will be tested for HPV using Xpert HPV. Xpert testing of self- and provider-collected samples will be conducted locally (at the point of care) in Brazil and Mexico. Remaining material from the vaginal and cervical samples will be shipped to Dr. Villa's lab in Brazil to allow for Qiagen' methylation testing of any WLWH with hrHPV detected. Residual samples, as well as the collected urine, will be stored in Dr. Villa's lab for future studies. In addition, an optional collection of anal canal and a cervical swab will occur in those that specifically provided consent. These specimens will be stored for future medical research and will not be analyzed as part of this study.

Women with hrHPV detected on a provider-collected cervical sample using a locally available and approved test, but who were negative for HSIL as determined by cervical biopsy, will be asked to return for a follow-up study visit at 6-month to receive the same procedures described above (with the exception of blood draws). If at the 6-month follow-up visit WLWH continue to have detection of hrHPV, but are HSIL-negative by biopsy, they will be asked to return for an additional follow-up study visit 6 months later (12-months post-baseline) to receive the same procedures (with blood draws). We estimate that approximately 40% of the population will have hrHPV detected and may need to return for a follow-up visit; and 7% will be HSIL+ and referred for treatment.