OncoE6™ Cervical Cancer Test

In regions where women do not have access to regular check-ups, cervical cancer is a top leading cause of death. In many places, the Pap test is used to detect cervical cancer; this outdated method was introduced in the 1940s, and because of its low accuracy it is now oftentimes being replaced by HPV testing. All cervical cancers are caused by HPV infection, but only a very small number of women who have HPV will develop cervical cancer. For example, in the US more than 20% of women have HPV, but lesser than 0.5% will develop cervical cancer. A positive HPV test alone can therefore lead to unnecessary anxiety, and to unnecessary treatments. Identifying which high-risk HPV infection will lead to cancer has been a diagnostic challenge. It is now known that HPV produces two oncoproteins, E6 and E7, without which cancer does not occur. Thus, detection of HPV DNA or RNA simply identifies infection while detection of E6 and E7 marks the transition from infection towards cancer. Arbor Vita’s OncoE6™ Cervical Test offers a solution to this problem: the OncoE6™ Cervical Test directly detects the cancer causing E6 oncoprotein molecule, made by those few HPV infections that will cause cervical cancer with a high likelihood.

Arbor Vita’s OncoE6™ product line identifies patients that are not only infected with HPV but are also producing E6 oncoproteins, indicating the presence of cervical pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions.

With its dipstick-like format, it is simple, quick non-invasive, and requires no refrigeration. The test is compatible with specimens collected for both a regular Pap smear or liquid Thinprep©