14 October 2024 [Press release]

New studies using GenoFlow™ HPV Array demonstrate the continued benefit and importance of extended genotyping

Two new studies featuring the GenoFlow™ HPV Array highlight the importance of using a HPV genotyping kit with broad coverage of HPV subtypes. DiagCor Life Science's kit offers 33 genotypes, which is superior to most other kits in the market.

The first study¹ from Iran uses HPV genotyping to demonstrate that, consistent with other national studies, the high-risk (HR) type HPV 16 is the most prevalent, but reveals the uncommonly high distribution of high-risk HPV 56 and low-risk HPV 54 in the Karaj region of the country. These findings highlight the concept of regional prevalence, as other Iranian studies have found other subtypes such as HPV 18 or HPV 52 to be the most common types after HPV 16. As HPV 54 and HPV 56 are not covered by current HPV vaccines, this also raises the important concept of vaccine coverage. Only a kit such as ours can fulfil the necessity for a broader and more comprehensive preventative testing strategy.

The second study² used HPV genotyping to identify oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients that were infected with HPV 16 specifically, or any HPV type. The authors analysed global DNA methylation levels in the tumour and margin samples collected from OPSCC and OSCC patients in relation to the socio-demographic and clinical–pathological parameters and the presence of HPV and EBV.

¹ Letafati A, Motlaghzadeh S, et. al. (2024). Uncommon high distribution of HPV-16, HPV-54, and HPV-56 in female referred to a laboratory in Karaj, Iran: indications of a paradigm shift in HPV genotypes? Virol J. 2024 Aug 9;21(1):182.
² Gaździcka J, Biernacki K, et. al. (2024). Global DNA Methylation Level in Tumour and Margin Samples in Relation to Human Papilloma Virus and Epstein-Barr Virus in Patients with Oropharyngeal and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Biomedicines. 2024 Apr 20;12(4):914.