Vaccination Against Human Papillomavirus Decreases Related Tests and Treatment for Cervical Cancer (6/3/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the Quadrivalent HPV Vaccine Merck Study Group have reported that vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with a reduction in Pap tests, colposcopy, cervical biopsy, and definitive treatment among women who were uninfected at the time of vaccination. The details of this study were presented at the 39th annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) in Tampa, Florida, from March 9 to 12, 2008.

African Americans with First-degree Relatives with Colon Cancer Have Poor Screening Rate (3/27/2008)
Researchers from Vanderbilt University have reported that 27% of African Americans with a first-degree relative with colon cancer undergo screening colonoscopy compared with 43% for White persons. The details of this study appeared in the March 24, 2008 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Neulasta® on First Day of Chemotherapy May Be More Convenient for Gynecologic Cancers (3/18/2008)
Researchers from the University of Alabama have reported that the administration of Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) on the first day of chemotherapy among women with gynecologic cancers may be as effective as and more convenient than second-day administration. These results were recently reported at the 2008 annual Society of Gynecologic Oncologists meeting.

Increased Risk of Cancer Persists Long after Treatment for Precancerous Cervical Changes (11/9/2007)
Researchers from Sweden have reported that women who have been treated for high-grade precancerous changes to the cervix (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3) are more likely than women in the general population to subsequently develop cervical or vaginal cancer. Furthermore, this increased risk persists for at least 25 years. The details of this study appeared in an early on-line publication in the British Medical Journal on October 24, 2007.

HPV Testing Superior to Papanicolaou Testing for Cervical Cancer Screening (11/3/2007)
Two recent studies published in the October 18, 2007 issue of  the New England Journal of Medicine help clarify the effects of screening for human papillomavirus (HPV) compared to standard Papanicolaou (Pap) testing.