International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Testing for gynaecological cancers should also include Human Papillomavirus (HPV) checks for women who were found to have the virus two years previously.

This is according to a study led by Hui-Chi Chen of the Genomics Research Center of Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan, who pointed out that although most HPV infections in females under the age of 25 go away, those over 30 should go for a screening.

HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer and the research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggested re-testing should be encouraged, along with the inclusion of HPV checks in general gynaecological cancer screening programmes.

"Our findings suggest that, if upon testing an HPV infection is found, re-testing 2 years later would provide useful guidance as to the duration of infection and its risk," the scientists stated.

Last month, a team at Indiana University in the US discovered that a combination of carboplatin and decitabine can be used to effectively treat late-stage ovarian cancer.

Posted by Martine Ward