Roche, a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, has launched the fully automated CINtec PLUS cytology test to improve the detection and early intervention of pre-cancerous cervical disease. The CINtec PLUS cytology test helps identify women with high-grade pre-cancerous cervical lesions who need immediate colposcopy.

“Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women worldwide and there are often no symptoms associated with cervical pre-cancer. With the launch of the fully automated CINtec PLUS Cytology Kit, Roche has the most comprehensive cervical cancer screening portfolio in the industry, helping to protect women from cervical cancer and from overtreatment,” said Roland Diggelmann, COO Division Roche Diagnostics. “The comprehensive portfolio shows our strong commitment to advancing women’s health and setting new healthcare standards.”

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are common and cause almost all cervical cancer.1 However, only those women with persistent HPV infections and who have developed high-grade pre-cancerous cervical disease should be treated. The CINtec PLUS cytology test was developed to help identify those HPV infections that may lead to cancer and distinguish them from those that will not. When compared with Pap smear, the CINtec PLUS cytology test is significantly more effective in detecting cervical pre-cancer.

More than 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year worldwide and half of these patients die. Cervical cancer is preventable through routine screening where women with pre-cancerous lesions can be treated before cancer develops. If caught early, cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and curable cancers with a survival rate of more than 90%. Unfortunately, the average five-year survival rate of patients is around 20% if the disease has advanced at the time of the diagnosis.

The fully automated CINtec PLUS cytology test is available in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Canada.

The cobas HPV Test screens for all high-risk genotypes together while simultaneously identifying those women who are genotype 16 and/or 18 positive that would benefit from immediate intervention. The CINtec PLUS cytology test helps identify underlying disease, determining those who should proceed to colposcopy.

In several large European studies, including the landmark Primary ASC-US LSIL Marker Study (PALMS)2 of more than 27,000 women, the Roche CINtec PLUS cytology test, when compared to Pap cytology testing, was more effective in detecting precancerous cervical lesions. In screening, Pap cytology had a sensitivity of 68.5% while the CINtec PLUS test had a sensitivity of 86.7%.