epiCervix

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women world-wide. If cervical cancer is caught at its earliest stage, the chance of survival is about 93%. This survival rate decreases significantly to around 15% for the most advanced stages.

 

Current diagnostic methods, including cytological screening, HPV testing, and liquid biopsy, have led to a decrease in cervical cancer, but many cases are still overlooked. Remarkably, cancer trends have seen an uptick even in countries with high-quality cervical screening programs (Flores & Marrero, 2014). HPV screening and evidence of low-grade premalignant changes in cytology are not sufficient indicators of malignant transformation. Therefore, robust markers are needed to detect early malignant transformation.

 

The main challenge is that in the early stages of the disease, only a few malignant cells might be present in the cervix. The insidious nature of cancer means that it evolves long before clear cytological and clinical symptoms become apparent.

 

In response to this, HKG Epitherapeutics LTD, a CLIA-certified (CLIA number: 99D2281144) and CAP accredited laboratory, has developed and is performing epiCervix, a test designed to advance cervical cancer diagnosis. This test utilizes DNA methylation analysis which may improve risk stratification in cervical screening. Our pan-epigenomic approach has identified new methylation markers that can detect cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer in its earliest stages. We have shortlisted a bigenic marker set with significant correlation between methylation levels and disease progression.

 

Our laboratory’s dual accreditation—CLIA and CAP—indicates that we meet the strict quality standards to perform diagnostic testing. It provides healthcare providers with confidence in the quality, accuracy, and reliability of our results. Our commitment is to enhance early detection, and ultimately, improve the prognosis and survival rates of those affected by this disease.