Early detection of cervical cancer

GynTect®

GynTect® can provide patients with rapid certainty after abnormal findings are detected during a cytological examination such as a Pap smear. This molecular biological test detects cervical cancer and its preliminary stages in a rapid and reliable way, making GynTect® a good accompaniment to the watchful waiting strategy.

Clarification with the gynaecologist

If in the framework of cervical cancer screening the Pap smear is abnormal or the HPV test is positive, the patient is suddenly in an exceptional situation. Although both tests indicate a potential cancer, in many cases there is no malignant disease present and the positive test result was a “false alarm”. Further examinations are necessary for definitive medical clarification, such as a colposcopy, with biopsy if necessary. In case of abnormalities, the allegedly affected tissue is often prematurely removed.

GynTect® detects malignant transformations

Persistent infection with HPV may lead to genetic instability within infected cells, and finally to cervical carcinoma. During carcinogenesis changes at the cellular DNA (methylations) occur. With GynTect® methylation changes at six different locations within the DNA, that specifically occur during carcinogenesis, are detected. Thus, GynTect® detects patients with malignant changes only.

If there is a positive GynTect® result, a malignant precursor or even cancer is very likely. Further steps such as diagnostics assisted by colposcopy and surgical therapies are recommended.

With a negative GynTect® result, a cancer diagnosis could be excluded at the time of testing. If there was an abnormal Pap test or HPV infection prior to the test, it is recommended to observe them further in a watchful waiting strategy.

GynTect® is particularly suitable for women who

  • are pregnant or want to get pregnant,

  • are looking for non-invasive diagnosis,

  • wish to avoid long periods of observation and waiting, or

  • want to continue treatment with their regular gynaecologist without being referred immediately to a specialist clinic.

Study data

Based on available study data GynTect® provides a clear indication of the malignancy status in patients with abnormal Pap smear: In all previous studies, GynTect® was able to detect all cervical cancer cases (sensitivity = 100 %).

In cytologically inconspicuous patients, GynTect® is only rarely positive (specificity = 96.6 %). Cancer develops via the histopathologically defined dysplasias CIN1, CIN2 and CIN3, for which the detection rate of GynTect® increases continuously. This indicates a prognostic value of GynTect® cancer markers.

Publications

Patient reports

We have been in close contact for some years with the anti-cancer activist Myriam von M. She started her FUCK Cancer campaign in 2014 and has been an idol for cancer patients and their relatives ever since. But also people who belong to the risk group turn to Myriam von M. On Facebook, she called on women with abnormal findings to share their experiences with us.

When reading the many submissions we noticed that many women felt insecure or even guilty after an invasive procedure. Especially pregnant women or women who want to have children wonder if they have done everything possible to avoid miscarriage. GynTect® offers a further option to respond to the individual situation of the patient.

Here is a selection of the submissions:

‘In 2005, I had a conisation after abnormalities were found in the smear. Ten years later, I got pregnant. After the 7th month, funnelling developed and I had to lie down. My child was then born healthy. Nevertheless, after what I’ve experienced, I’m very afraid of a second pregnancy.’

‘During my pregnancy, I received a PapIII finding. In the 19th week of pregnancy, I underwent conisation. In the 25th week of pregnancy, I had a stillbirth because of a germ contamination. The doctors could not rule out that this was a consequence of conisation. I feel very guilty and at the same time I am afraid of getting cervical cancer after all.’

‘In 2010, my Pap test was positive in the 20th week of pregnancy. At that time, I refused conisation and was closely monitored. Six months after I gave birth, a conisation was performed. In 2015, I became pregnant again and miscarried.’

‘Since I was 25, I was PapIIId and HPV positive. About two years later, I had my child. Afterwards, I had a conisation at my own request, so that I would not have to go for an examination every three months. Due to deteriorating values, further conisations followed. After that, I had a miscarriage. The question of whether I did something wrong or whether I could have done something to stop it from happening is always in my head!’

 

‘Two years after my conisation, I became pregnant. I had a very problematic pregnancy and had to lie down after the 6th week of pregnancy. I should have visited a psychologist. That’s what I think in retrospect. I want another child, but I’m afraid I’ll have to lie down like that again.’