Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40439417›Full record

ArticleCancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa.)2025

CervicalMethDx: A Precision DNA Methylation Test to Identify Risk of High-Grade Intraepithelial Lesions in Cervical Cancer Screening Algorithms.

Laura Palmieri, Fernando T Zamuner, Dieila Giomo de Lima, Keerthana Gosala, Eli Winkler, Yash Prashar, Ana Purcell-Wiltz, Amanda García-Negrón, Ashley Ramos-Lopez, Josefina Romaguera and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Frontiers in medicine · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Laura Palmieri *Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.ORCID 0000-0002-2998-8679
Fernando T Zamuner *Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.ORCID 0000-0002-6106-4361
Dieila Giomo de LimaDepartment of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.ORCID 0000-0002-5163-6047
Keerthana GosalaDepartment of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.ORCID 0009-0006-7340-0488
Eli WinklerDepartment of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.ORCID 0009-0006-4993-0841
Yash PrasharDepartment of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.ORCID 0009-0001-9429-9204
Ana Purcell-WiltzLifeGene-Biomarks, Inc, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.ORCID 0009-0009-7264-460X
Amanda García-NegrónLifeGene-Biomarks, Inc, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.ORCID 0009-0004-9187-0358
Ashley Ramos-LopezLifeGene-Biomarks, Inc, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.ORCID 0009-0007-0220-8226
Josefina RomagueraDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico.ORCID 0000-0001-5403-9160
Bruce J TrockBrady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.ORCID 0000-0003-3529-9295
Teresa Díaz-MontesThe Gynecologic Oncology Center at Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland.ORCID 0000-0003-0881-3236
David SidranskyDepartment of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.ORCID 0000-0003-4178-2072
Mariana BraitDepartment of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.ORCID 0000-0002-1652-8921
Rafael Guerrero-PrestonLifeGene-Biomarks, Inc, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.ORCID 0000-0002-6639-6488

Funding

Precision methylation biomarkers for cervical cancer prevention in low resource settings in Latin AmericaR44CA254690 · NCI · LIFEGENE-BIOMARKS, INC. · PI GUERRERO-PRESTON, RAFAEL · 2021 to 2023
$2.4M
Precision DNA methylation test to reduce oral cancer disparities in African Americans patients residing in low-resource settingsR44CA281719 · NCI · LIFEGENE-BIOMARKS, INC. · PI Rafael Guerrero-Preston · 2023 to 2026
$2.1M
Precision screening in self-collected samples to reduce cervical cancer disparities among LatinasR42MD018231 · NIMHD · LIFEGENE-BIOMARKS, INC. · PI Rafael Guerrero-Preston · 2024 to 2026
$2.1M
Precision methylation biomarkers linked to cancer disparitiesR44MD014911 · NIMHD · LIFEGENE-BIOMARKS, INC. · PI GUERRERO-PRESTON, RAFAEL · 2019 to 2021
$1.7M
Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute (DCP, NCI) R44CA254690Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute (DCP, NCI) R44CA281719National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) R42MD018231National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) R44MD014911NCI NIH HHS R44 CA254690NCI NIH HHS R44 CA281719NIMHD NIH HHS R42 MD018231NIMHD NIH HHS R44 MD014911Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Despite progress in prevention and success in early detection through cytologic screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) detection, there remains a challenge in triaging women appropriately to colposcopy and biopsy. We sought to validate the CervicalMethDx test, a precision DNA methylation classifier for cervical cancer detection, as a reflex test in women with HPV-positive samples. A blinded retrospective study was performed on well-characterized samples in PreservCyt media from a large referral clinical laboratory in the United States. DNA methylation was assessed in three gene promoters (ZNF516, FKBP6, and INTS1) and a control gene (β-actin) by quantitative real-time methylation-specific PCR (qMSP) analysis, using machine learning algorithms. We compared DNA methylation levels in HPV-positive patients presenting with lesions in the Pap test and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) or CIN3 histologic diagnosis with DNA methylation levels in HPV-positive patients with lesions in the Pap test but no intraepithelial lesion or malignancy. The CervicalMethDx test correctly classified 95% of the CIN2 samples (n = 210), with 91% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.96, and 94% of CIN3 samples (n = 141), with 90% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and an AUC of 0.96. Moreover, the CervicalMethDx test correctly classified 94% of combined CIN2/CIN3 samples (n = 351), with 93% sensitivity, 97% specificity, and an AUC of 0.96. CervicalMethDx demonstrated strong discriminatory power for identifying CIN2/CIN3 risk and may complement current triage strategies for colposcopy referral. Prospective, population-based studies, including those in low-resource settings, are needed for further evaluation. PREVENTION RELEVANCE: The CervicalMethDx test integrates DNA methylation analysis and machine learning to improve early detection of high-grade cervical lesions (high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions), offering a noninvasive, cost-effective screening tool. Enhanced risk stratification and overtreatment reduction expand equitable access to precision prevention programs. Further validation will clarify CervicalMethDx's alignment with global cervical cancer prevention strategies.

Indexed as

DNA MethylationEarly Detection of CancerPapillomavirus InfectionsUterine Cervical DysplasiaUterine Cervical NeoplasmsAdultAlgorithmsBiomarkers, TumorColposcopyFemaleHumansMiddle AgedPapanicolaou TestPapillomaviridaeRetrospective StudiesVaginal SmearsBiomarkers, Tumor

Identifiers

PMID40439417
PMCPMC12402793

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.