Detection of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus in Cervix Sample in an 11.3-year Follow-Up after Vaccination against HPV 16/18

Abstract

Purpose the aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern of human papillomavirus (HPV) detection in an 11.3-year post-vaccination period in a cohort of adolescent and young women vaccinated or not against HPV 16/18.

Methods a subset of 91 women from a single center participating in a randomized clinical trial (2001–2010, NCT00689741/00120848/00518336) with HPV 16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine was evaluated. All women received three doses of the HPV vaccine (n = 48) or a placebo (n = 43), and cervical samples were collected at 6-month intervals. Only in this center, one additional evaluation was performed in 2012. Up to 1,492 cervical samples were tested for HPV-DNA and genotyped with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The vaccine group characteristics were compared by Chi-square or Fisher exact or Mann-Whitney test. The high-risk (HR)-HPV 6-month-persistent infection rate was calculated. The cumulative infection by HPV group was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test.

Results the cumulative infection with any type of HPV in an 11.3-year period was 67% in the HPV vaccine group and 72% in the placebo group (p = 0.408). The longitudinal analysis showed an increase of 4% per year at risk for detection of HR-HPV (non-HPV 16/18) over time (p = 0.015), unrelated to vaccination. The cumulative infection with HPV 16/18 was 4% for the HPV vaccine group and 29% for the placebo group (p = 0.003). There were 43 episodes of HR-HPV 6-month persistent infection, unrelated to vaccination.

Conclusions this study showed the maintenance of viral detection rate accumulating HR-HPV (non-HPV-16–18) positive tests during a long period post-vaccination, regardless of prior vaccination. This signalizes that the high number of HPV-positive tests may be maintained after vaccination.

Resumo

Objetivos avaliar o padrão de detecção do papilomavírus humano (HPV) em um período de 11.3 anos após a vacinação em uma coorte de adolescentes e mulheres jovens vacinadas ou não contra HPV 16/18.

Métodos avaliou-se um subgrupo de 91 mulheres de um único centro, participantes de ensaio clínico randomizado (2001–2010, NCT00689741/00120848/00518336) com a vacina contra HPV 16/18 com adjuvante AS04. Todas as mulheres receberam três doses de vacina contra HPV (n = 48) ou placebo (n = 43), e tiveram amostras cervicais coletadas em intervalos de 6 meses. Somente neste centro, uma avaliação adicional foi realizada em 2012. Um total de 1.492 amostras cervicais foram testadas para DNA-HPV e genotipadas com reação em cadeia da polimerase (RCP). As características dos grupos de vacina contra HPV ou placebo foram comparadas pelo teste de Qui-quadrado ou teste exato de Fisher ou teste de Mann-Whitney. A infecção persistente por 6 meses pelo HPV de alto risco (AR) foi calculada. A infecção cumulativa por grupo foi avaliada pelo método de Kaplan-Meier e pelo teste log-rank.

Resultados a infecção cumulativa com qualquer tipo de HPV em 11.3 anos foi de 67% no grupo vacina contra HPV e de 72% no grupo placebo (p = 0,408). A análise longitudinal mostrou um aumento de 4% ao ano no risco de detecção de HR-HPV (não-HPV 16/18) ao longo do tempo (p = 0,015), não relacionado com a vacinação. A infecção cumulativa com HPV 16/18 foi de 4% para o grupo vacina contra HPV e 29% para o grupo placebo (p = 0,003). Houve 43 episódios de infecção persistente por 6 meses por HR-HPV, não relacionados com a vacinação.

Conclusões este estudo mostrou a manutenção da taxa de detecção viral, acumulando testes positivos de HR-HPV (não HPV-16–18) durante longo período pós-vacinação, independentemente da vacinação prévia. Isto sinaliza que a alta positividade dos testes de HPV pode ser mantida após a vacinação.

Keywords

human papillomavirus - cervix uteri - papillomavirus vaccines - human papillomavirus vaccine 16 and 18 L1 VLP - HPV DNA tests - polymerase chain reaction

Palavras-Chave

papilomavírus humano - colo uterino - vacinas contra papilomavírus - vacina contra papilomavírus humano16 e 18 VLP L1 - testes de DNA-HPV - reação em cadeia da polimerase

Introduction

The etiology of cervical cancer is related to persistent infection with a high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV).[1] [2] Our knowledge of the relationship between these viral infections and uterine cervical cancer has led to the development of prophylactic vaccines and their licensing for use in 2006. Since then, the use of these vaccines has progressively expanded in population-based programs around the world, and some preliminary results are already available.[3] [4] [5] [6] Presumably, HPV vaccination on a large scale should interfere with the diversity of HPV types distributed in nature, even those unrelated to the HPV vaccine types.[7] [8] A long transitional period is expected and understanding this process is important to define strategies for the detection of women at risk and to screen for precursor lesions in the post-vaccination era.[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] There is evidence that HPV testing may have better performance in a vaccinated population[9] [10] [11] and that it will be more efficient in the future screening of vaccinated women, when compared with cytology.[8] Our institution in Campinas, Brazil, has participated in clinical trials of vaccines against HPV since 2000. This study presents an evaluation of a cohort of women vaccinated against HPV 16/18 or with control vaccine in 2001 and followed-up until 2012, describing the pattern of HR-HPV DNA detection in cervical samples over time as a preliminary estimate of the future performance of HPV tests.

Methods

We analyzed the data from ∼ 91 women who participated in a phase IIB, multicenter, clinical trial, with the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) HPV 16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine, as a prospective cohort study. This clinical trial comprised the primary study and two follow-up extension studies, between 2001 and 2010 (NCT 00689741/ 00120848/ 00518336, www.clinicaltrials.gov), with their results already published.[12] [13] [14] In 2001, 98 women started their participation; they were between 15 and 25 years old, reported six or fewer previous sexual partners, and were naive for HR-HPV detectable infection according to screening performed 90–105 days before vaccination. Ninety-one of them received three doses of vaccine, given in a randomized double-blind manner, on a 6-month schedule (0/1/6): 48 women received the HPV vaccine against HPV 16/18 and 43 received the placebo (Al[OH]₃). They were followed-up until 2010 and cervical samples were collected at intervals of 180 ± 45 days, except in 2003

In 2012, 78 women for whom contact information was available were invited to attend an additional evaluation for the present study, and those who received the placebo in 2001 (35 subjects) were offered the opportunity to receive the licensed vaccine against HPV 16/18. Sixty-seven women accepted the invitation and 59 (32 previously vaccinated with the HPV vaccine and 27 with the placebo) agreed to participate in the current study and undergo a gynecological evaluation with cervical samples collection. The gaps in data collection that occurred in years 2003 and 2011 arose because of the time required for regulatory approval of the research, and in 2003, it was aggravated by the wait for the results from the primary multicenter study analysis before we could move forward. In addition, in 2011, there was a period spent to define the cross-vaccination feasibility to the placebo recipients because the same vaccine had just been licensed and available for vaccination in Brazil (year 2010), but only for women up to 25 years-old. As most of the women were older than 25s, a new study had to be designed and submitted for regulatory approval just to provide cross-vaccination.

The cervical samples collected were preserved in PreservCyt (Cytyc Corporation, Boxborough, MA, USA) and tested with SPF₁₀ LiPA₂₅ assay,[15] a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyping tool for the detection of 25 HPV types (15 HR-HPV), performed by a centralized laboratory with careful quality control, between 2001 and 2010. The samples from the last visit, in 2012, were stored at - 30°C until 2014 and tested with the CLART-HPV2 test (Genomica S.A.U., Madrid, Spain),[16] a PCR genotyping tool that detects 35 HPV types, the same 15 HR-HPV types as SPF₁₀ LiPA₂₅ plus 5 additional oncogenic high-risk types (HR-HPV 26, 53, 73, 82, and 85), totaling 20 HR-HPV types. The CLART-HPV2 tests were performed at a molecular diagnostic laboratory in São Paulo, Brazil, with experience in HPV testing, and, as a quality control of the stored samples, a set of 20 frozen samples and other 20 ‘fresh’ cervical samples were tested in two laboratories, and by three different assays (local innovative prototype assay, Cobas HPV test [Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., Pleasanton, CA, USA] and CLART-HPV2). The results were concordant and storage time until samples analysis was not considered a concern.

The studies (three consecutive phases of a multicenter study in the period of 2001–2010 and the current single-center study) followed the regulatory standards of the National Health Council of Brazil[17] and were approved by the local Ethics Committee. All subjects signed an informed consent form before their participation in each study.

Statistical Analysis

We compared the groups (HPV vaccine and placebo) in respect to age and potential risk factors associated with the acquisition of HPV infection: new sexual partner reported in the preceding year, previous pregnancy, regular use (continuous use for 3 months or more each year) of hormonal contraceptives or condoms, and smoking (any amount). Information were recorded at four tie points (in years 2001, 2005, 2010, and 2012). The analysis was performed using the chi-squared (χ²), χ² for trend, Fisher's exact, or Mann–Whitney tests. The longitudinal analysis to estimate the cumulative risk of HPV-positive test result in 11.3 years after vaccination was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test.[18] The HPV types detected were pooled as follows: any HPV, HR-HPV, HR-HPV (non-HPV 16/18) and HPV 16/18. The HR-HPV 6-month-persistent infection (6MPI) was calculated. For statistical analysis, the SAS 9.2 software (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA)[19] was used and p values < 0.05 were considered significant.

Results

At study entry, the age range distributions were similar between the groups and there were no significant differences in terms of the risk factors considered associated with HPV acquisition between the vaccination groups ([Table 1]). The maximum follow-up time was 135 months.

Table 1 Distribution of the demographic characteristics checked by time point (years 2001, 2005, 2010 and 2012) and by vaccination group

Parameter	Year	Number of answer ‘Yes’
		‘Yes’/total	Vaccination group
			HPV vaccine		Placebo
			n	%	N	%
New sexual partner in last year	2001	11/88	5/47	10.6	6/41	14.6
	2005	20/78	10/42	23.8	10/36	27.8
	2010	10/75	3/41	7.3	7/34	20.6
	2012	5/59	3/32	9.4	2/27	7.4
Previous pregnancy reported	2001	38/88	19/47	40.4	19/41	46.3
	2005	33/78	18/42	42.3	15/36	41.7
	2010	14/75	8/41	19.5	6/34	17.6
	2012	0/59	0/32		0/27
Hormonal contraceptive →regular use*	2001	48/88	25	53.2	23	56.1
	2005	49/78	28	66.7	21	58.3
	2010	42/75	23	56.1	19	55.9
	2012	35/59	16	50.0	19	70.4
Condom →regular use*	2001	26/88	9/47	19.1	17/41	41.5
	2005	10/78	5/42	11.9	5/36	13.9
	2010	6/75	4/41	9.8	2/34	5.9
	2012	5/59	3/32	9.4	2/27	7.4
Current smoking	2001	26/88	14	29.8	12	29.3
	2005	12/78	6	14.3	6	16.7
	2010	14/75	9	22.0	5	14.7
	2012	10/59	4	12.5	6	22.2

*Regular use indicates having used the method for at least 3 consecutive months in the last 12 months.

For each parameter and period: all tests by Chi-square or Fisher exact or Mann-Whitney were p > 0.05.

The cumulative percentages of subjects with HPV infection throughout the 11.3-year study period and pooled in any HPV type or HR-HPV type were 67% and 60%, respectively, for the HPV vaccine group and 72 and 63%, respectively, for the placebo group (p = 0.408 and p = 0.452, respectively) ([Table 2]). The cumulative infection rate in the 11.3-year period by HR-HPV (non-HPV 16/18) was 57–58% for both groups (p = 0.652) ([Fig. 1]), with an increasing trend of 4% per year (p = 0.015).

Fig. 1 Cumulative percentage of women with high-risk HPV (non-HPV 16/18) infection detected in long-term follow-up by vaccination group.

Table 2 Cumulative percentage and number of subjects with HPV infection according to HPV group and vaccine received

Months after dose 1	Cumulative percentage and number of subjects by HPV group
	Any HPV				High risk				High risk (non-HPV 16/18)				HPV 16/18
	HPV vaccine (n = 48)		Placebo (n = 43)		HPV vaccine (n = 48)		Placebo (n = 43)		HPV vaccine (n = 48)		Placebo (n = 43)		HPV vaccine (n = 48)		Placebo (n = 43)
	%	Subj.	%	Subj.	%	Subj.	%	Subj.	%	Subj.	%	Subj.	%	Subj.	%	Subj.
12	31	15	35	15	17	8	21	9	13	6	12	5	4	2	9	4
24	40	19	47	20	25	12	33	14	21	10	23	10	4	2	12	5
60	51	24	64	27	40	19	54	22	38	18	47	19	4	2	20	8
120	55	26	69	29	47	22	60	24	45	21	58	23	4	2	26	10
135	67	30	72	30	60	26	63	25	57	25	58	23	4	2	29	11
p*	0.408				0.452				0.652				0.003

Abbreviations: HPV, Human Papillomavirus; Subj., subjects.

*Log-rank test. Multiple HPV detection was considered one event by HPV group.

On the last visit (2012, CLART-HPV2 test), four HR-HPV (non-HPV 16/18) infections were detected in each group; in the HPV vaccine group as a first detection (all four), and in the placebo group, the other four as repeated detections. The HPV types detected in these eight cases by CLART-HPV2 test were types that could be detected by SPF₁₀ LiPA₂₅ test too, reducing possible interference in results due to different assays applied.

As expected, the cumulative infection by HPV 16/18 was 4% for the HPV vaccine group and 29% for the placebo group (p = 0.003) ([Fig. 2] and [Table 2]).

Fig. 2 Cumulative percentage of women with HPV 16/18 infection detected in long-term follow-up by vaccination group.

We observed 52 episodes of HR-HPV 6MPI in 31 patients throughout the 11.3-year period. The cumulative rate of HR-HPV 6MPI detections for the 11.3-year period was 31% for the HPV vaccine group and 45% for the placebo group (p = 0.189) ([Fig. 3]). Considering HPV 16/18 6MPI, no event was observed in the HPV vaccine group, whereas six events were recorded in the placebo group. Of these six events, four were related to HPV-16 and two events related to HPV18.

Fig. 3 Cumulative percentage of women with high-risk HPV 6-month persistent infection detected in long-term follow-up by vaccination group.

Discussion

This is a unique long-term HPV study done in the post-vaccination era, and it emphasizes that HR-HPV (non-HPV 16/18) continues to occur at the same rate in HPV vaccinated group versus unvaccinated women. The cumulative infection rate by any HPV type in 11.3 years after vaccination was significant and unrelated to the vaccine received (67% in the HPV vaccine group and 72% in the placebo group). The detection of HR-HPV (non-HPV 16/18) was similar in the 11.3-year post-vaccination period and was not associated with the vaccination received in 2001, and increasing 4% per year. As expected, the HPV 16/18 detection rate tended to decrease in the period studied, with a 90% lower risk of detection if previously vaccinated.

The aim of this study was to assess the long-term pattern of HPV detection, particularly of HR-HPV (non-HPV 16/18), and our results indicate that the previous vaccination against HPV 16/18 was not associated with lower detection rates of HR-HPV (non-HPV 16/18) in this group of 91 women. Our results are in line with the published findings from the major study that analyzed data from all centers and showed an evident vaccine efficacy related to HPV 16/18 detection and no statistic power to show cross-protection against others HR-HPV types.[12] [13] [14]

The local cohort studied showed an increase of 4% per year in the chance of a new HR-HPV detection when samples were taken every 6 months. This finding is consistent with previous observations in the population cohort studied, that the HPV infection remains detectable and with a significant rate of 3 to 7% for women aged 20 to 44 years (and unvaccinated), as described by Muñoz et al (2004)[20] for the general population.

The clinical significance of our results can be translated to maintenance of HPV-positive test results even in vaccinated women, with a significant probability to have a positive test result during their regular follow-up. This finding became important once the HPV tests started to be applied for screening. The expectation of improved performance of HPV tests in the future vaccinated population[9] [10] may not happen.

Considering HR-HPV, the persistent infection by the same HPV type detected in 6-month interval showed episodes similarly distributed in both groups (data not shown). Six cases of persistent infection were associated with HPV-16 or -18 and all detected in the placebo group. Additional information about follow-up of these cases: three of these six cases had cytological abnormalities, one had CIN1 and another had CIN2 diagnostic, and all abnormalities were associated with HPV-16. These findings confirm the previously published results for the GSK HPV vaccine trial.[12] [13] [14]

This study had some limitations including the small number of cases evaluated and the high frequency (6-month intervals) of sample collection. The strengths were the long follow-up period and the characteristics of the participants who initially were naive for HR-HPV previous detectable infection, randomly vaccinated, placebo controlled and maintained as double-blind, with a good adherence rate (86%) to the study procedures scheduled up to 2010.

The additional non-randomized, unblinded visit (2012), performed only at our center, made it possible to increase the follow-up time to 11.3 years and reach the number of 1,492 tests evaluated from both groups. It is important to note that were differences related to HPV test assays used in this study.

The CLART-HPV2 test used in the last samples evaluation detected eight cases of HR-HPV (non-HPV 16/18) (four in each vaccine group), the same HPV types already tested by SPF₁₀ LiPA₂₅. The cumulative infection by HR-HPV (non-HPV 16/18) showed a final convergence demonstrated by the elevation of the curve for the HPV vaccine group ([Fig. 1]). This final pattern of the curve can be explained by the fact that all four cases detected in the HPV vaccine group were new detections, in contrast with the four detections done in placebo group, which happened in patients with previously positive tests, and thus, had no impact on the curve. No additional HPV types were detected. Therefore, we believe that the difference between the HPV test assays did not affect the longitudinal aggregated data and results.

Our results signalize the possibility of maintaining the performance of HPV tests at standard rates, particularly with high positivity rate and limited specificity. These patterns may directly influence the application of the HPV tests in large-scale, particularly in younger women and in the vaccinated population, as discussed in some researches.[11] [21] [22] The cohort studied here showed the same pattern with high positivity rate for HPV tests.

In conclusion, in addition to the fact that the prophylactic vaccination provided protection against vaccine-targeted HPV types for up to 11.3 years, the detection of HR-HPV (non-HPV 16/18) was maintained for a long period post-vaccination with a slight annual increase of 4%, even in women previously vaccinated, in a well-controlled study. The women vaccinated may remain at the same risk of having an HPV-positive test result in their regular screening and a new approach or screening tests must be defined to find the women who are really at risk.

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

Acknowledgments

GlaxoSmithKline provided the data from the Campinas Center for the HPV 16/18 vaccine studies.

Financial Support

This study was partially funded by FAEPEX (Unicamp) 519292–1016/13.

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