Staining 'spots cervical cancer'

Rogue cells were easier to spot on the staining test (on the right)

A cell-staining technique could help scientists in developing countries detect cervical cancers more accurately, a study has found.

The normal way of checking smears requires highly skilled analysis, but developing countries do not have enough people with the skills.

The British Journal of Cancer study involving 455 women found the staining method was faster and easier to read.

The team are also working on a version of the test to be used in the UK.

If more women were screened, the number who go on to develop cancer could potentially be reduced Dr Nick Coleman Medical Research Council

The lack of experts combined with often insufficient lab facilities can make reading smear test results difficult in developing countries.

More than 126,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in India alone - in the UK the figure is closer to 2,800.

The study involved researchers from the UK's Medical Research Council's Cancer Cell Unit and Cancer Research UK, as well as doctors and laboratory technicians from the Kidwai Memorial Hospital of Oncology, Bangalore, India.

Poor lab facilities

The team compared the effectiveness of the conventional "Pap" method with a test which detects minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins, which are present on the surface of cancerous or pre-cancerous cells.

Two samples were taken from each of the 455 women who took part in the study; one for the Pap smear and one for the MCM.

It took researchers two minutes to find rogue cancer cells with the staining technique, compared with up to 10 minutes with the Pap method.

The scientists agreed 100% of the time on results from staining, but only 85% of the time on the Pap smears.

Ten cases of cervical cancer or pre-cancerous cells were detected using the MCM test which did not show up in the Pap tests.

The staining process would add cost to cervical checks, but money would be saved through lower training costs for people who screen the samples, and because the process would be less time-consuming.

Dr Nick Coleman, who led the research, said: ''Cervical screening is limited to specialist institutes in India so most women don't have access to a smear test. If more women were screened, the number who go on to develop cancer could potentially be reduced.

"A test that allows a laboratory technician to find these cells faster, more easily and with greater certainty, should make cervical screening available to more women, as it is a lack of lab resources that prevents women from accessing this potentially life-saving test.''

A version of the test using the liquid-based cytology (LBC) method which is used in the UK and US is currently being tested in America.

Dr Lesley Walker, of Cancer Research UK, said: "The authors of this study suggest using their MCM test combined with LBC samples, would provide the best clinical and most cost-effective way forward for screening in the developing world, but more studies are needed to confirm this."