Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) is being widely used in microRNA expression research. However, few reports detailed a robust identification and validation strategy for suitable reference genes for normalisation in microRNA RT-qPCR studies. The aim of this study was to identify the most stable reference gene(s) for quantification of microRNA expression analysis in uterine cervical tissues. A microarray was performed on 6 pairs of uterine cervical tissues to identify the candidate reference genes. The stability of candidate reference genes was assessed by RT-qPCR in 23 pairs of uterine cervical tissues. The identified most stable reference genes were further validated in other cohort of 108 clinical uterine cervical samples: (HR-HPV- normal, n = 21; HR-HPV+ normal, n = 19; cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [CIN], n = 47; cancer, n = 21), and the effects of normalizers on the relative quantity of target miR-424 were assessed. In the array experiment, miR-26a, miR-23a, miR-200c, let-7a, and miR-1979 were identified as candidate reference genes for subsequent validation. MiR-23a was identified as the most reliable reference gene followed by miR-191. The use of miR-23a and miR-191 to normalize expression data enabled detection of a significant deregulation of miR-424 between normal, CIN and cancer tissue. Our results suggested that miR-23a and miR-191 are the optimal reference microRNAs that can be used for normalization in profiling studies of cervical tissues; miR-23a is a novel microRNA normalizer.
Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia/diagnosis/genetics/*metabolism/pathology ; Cervix Uteri/*metabolism/pathology ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling/*standards ; Humans ; MicroRNAs/genetics/*metabolism/standards ; Microarray Analysis ; Reference Standards ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/diagnosis/genetics/*metabolism/pathology

Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; metabolism ; Carcinoma in Situ ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; virology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and reliability of cobas 4800 HPV test for cervical cancer screening and cytology referral.

METHODScobas 4800 HPV test and hybrid capture 2 (HC-2) were used to detect high risk HPV DNA in 670 specimens of liquid-based cytology collected from three hospitals. The agreement between cobas and HC-2 tests was assessed. HPV PCR detection (HybriBio) and gene sequencing were used for genotyping, and the agreement of HPV16 and 18 genotyped by cobas and HybriBio was evaluated. Histological diagnosis was considered as a gold standard to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of cobas vs. HC-2 in detecting CIN2(+) in cervical lesions.

RESULTSThe crude agreement between cobas and HC-2 tests was 89.40%, the Kappa value was 0.778, the positive concordance rate was 86.42%, and the negative concordance rate was 91.36%. The crude agreement rates between cobas and HybriBio on HPV16 and 18 were 88.89% and 94.94%, the Kappa values were 0.777 and 0.753, the positive concordance rates were 98.91% and 100.00%, and the negative concordance rates were 78.41% and 94.44%, respectively. HPV PCR detection (HybriBio) and gene sequencing were considered as adjusted standard: the high risk HPV positive concordance rate was 100%, negative coincidence rate was 94.42%, HPV16 and 18 positive concordance rates were both 100%, and negative concordance rates were 82.35% and 94.44%, respectively. Regarding the detection of CIN2(+), the sensitivity and specificity were 91.07% and 70.97% for cobas, and 93.75% and 71.33% for HC-2, with a non-significant difference between the results of the two tests (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONScobas4800 HPV test has good screening sensitivity and specificity in correct detection of HPV16 and 18 and other high-risk HPV virus types.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; diagnosis ; pathology ; virology ; Cytodiagnosis ; methods ; DNA, Viral ; metabolism ; Early Detection of Cancer ; methods ; Female ; Genotype ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; genetics ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; genetics ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Triage ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; virology ; Young Adult