High-Risk HPV Screening Initiative in Kosovo—A Way to Optimize HPV Vaccination for Cervical Cancer

Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection. There are 14 recognized hrHPV genotypes (HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68), and hrHPV genotypes 16 and 18 comprise approximately 66% of all cases worldwide. An additional 15% of cervical cancers are caused by hrHPV genotypes 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. Screening patients for hrHPV as a mechanism for implementation of early treatment is a proven strategy for decreasing the incidence of HPV-related neoplasia, cervical cancer in particular. Here, we present population data from an HPV screening initiative in Kosovo designed to better understand the prevalence of the country's HPV burden and local incidence of cervical cancer by hrHPV genotype. Nearly 2000 women were screened for hrHPV using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) assay followed by melt curve analysis to establish the prevalence of hrHPV in Kosovo. Additionally, DNA was extracted from 200 formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded cervical tumors and tested for hrHPV using the same method. Cervical screening samples revealed a high prevalence of hrHPV genotypes 16 and 51, while cervical cancer specimens predominantly harbored genotypes 16, 18, and 45. This is the first comprehensive screening study for evaluating the prevalence of hrHPV genotypes in Kosovo on screening cervical brush samples and cervical neoplasms. Given the geographic distribution of hrHPV genotypes and the WHO's global initiative to eliminate cervical cancer, this study can support and direct vaccination efforts to cover highly prevalent hrHPV genotypes in Kosovo's at-risk population.