A breakthrough development in the fight against cervical cancer has emerged from a collaborative research effort led by Rice University alongside institutions in Mozambique and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. A new human papillomavirus (HPV) test has been designed to be simple, affordable, and capable of delivering results in under an hour without the need for specialized laboratory facilities. This innovative testing method stands as a critical advancement for women in low-resource settings, potentially allowing for complete screening and treatment of cervical cancer during a single clinic visit. This significant leap in medical technology has been documented in a recent publication in Nature Communications.
Cervical cancer is noted for being preventable, yet it continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer-related death among women globally. Each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 350,000 women succumb to cervical cancer, with around 90% of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. In these regions, access to routine cervical cancer screening is often severely restricted, leaving women vulnerable. The primary cause of cervical cancer is persistent infection with high-risk HPV types. While vaccination campaigns aim to immunize younger populations and reduce HPV infections, many at-risk older women remain unvaccinated. Therefore, reliable and regular screening is crucial for early detection and effective treatment.
Maria Barra, a bioengineering graduate student at Rice University and the first author of the study, emphasized the urgency of this test. Barra noted the ongoing tragedy of cervical cancer fatalities despite it being almost entirely preventable. The team’s objective was to create a testing method that meets three essential criteria: it must deliver accurate results to guide treatment, be rapid enough for use within a clinical setting, and be cost-effective to allow for wide-scale deployment. The newly developed assay achieves all these requirements.
The WHO promotes HPV DNA testing as the gold standard for cervical cancer screenings, but many existing tests necessitate expensive laboratory equipment and trained technicians. As a result, these requirements pose significant barriers to implementation in less affluent areas. A common issue encountered in current screening methodologies is that results can take several days or weeks to process, typically requiring patients to return for follow-up appointments. This delay is particularly problematic in remote healthcare settings, where access to services is limited and patients may be unable to revisit for treatment. The introduction of a faster, lab-independent test that delivers results on the same day is a potentially life-saving solution.
The new HPV testing method utilizes loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), which simplifies DNA detection by operating at a single temperature. By eliminating the need for complex DNA extraction processes typically seen in many tests, this testing method streamlines the overall procedure. Instead, the LAMP approach begins with the collection of a swab sample, which is chemically lysed and directly combined with the LAMP reagents for incubation in a portable heater for about 45 minutes, followed by fluorescence reading to determine results.
This test specifically identifies three of the most high-risk HPV types, namely HPV16, HPV18, and HPV45, which collectively account for approximately 75% of cervical cancer cases. Moreover, a cellular control mechanism is incorporated within the test, verifying that samples have been collected correctly, which is crucial for ensuring test accuracy and reliability.
Clinical trials have yielded impressive results, showing a 100% agreement with reference standards in 38 samples collected from Houston, Texas, and a 93% agreement based on 191 samples from the Mozambican capital, Maputo. The anticipated costs of conducting this test are projected to be under $8 per test. Additionally, the device operates on batteries, making it well-suited for clinics that may lack stable electricity sources.
Cesaltina Lorenzoni, a prominent figure in Mozambique’s healthcare landscape and the head of the National Cancer Control Program, has recognized the potential impact of this innovative screening technology. Lorenzoni stated that high rates of cancer-related mortality are often linked to extended delays in diagnosis and limited access to early treatment options. Implementing point-of-care technologies that facilitate immediate cancer identification and treatment guidance during a single visit could significantly improve patient outcomes in Maputo’s clinical environments. The favorable performance of this HPV assay in local clinical settings presents an exciting opportunity for improving women’s health throughout the region.
In line with the WHO’s ambitious strategy to screen 70% of women worldwide by 2030, achieving this target necessitates the screening of millions of women across various global settings that typically lack advanced laboratory equipment. The introduction of the LAMP assay is a major step towards realizing this goal by reducing the need for costly laboratory instruments, minimizing unnecessary sample handling, and delivering timely, accurate results.
Moreover, a key benefit of the new testing approach is its facilitation of “screen-and-treat” paradigms. This process allows for immediate treatment upon receiving positive test results, thereby minimizing delays and preventing patients from falling through the cracks due to lost appointments. This innovation has the potential to transform cervical cancer intervention narratives in resource-limited settings.
Looking toward the future, the research team aims to expand the test to include an even broader range of high-risk HPV types. Additionally, they are exploring the development of lyophilized, freeze-dried reagents that do not necessitate refrigeration, further enhancing the test’s practicality in rural and under-resourced communities. To ensure that the device’s design perfectly aligns with the needs of healthcare providers, usability studies with frontline health workers will be conducted prior to larger-scale implementation.
In moving towards a world where cervical cancer can be entirely eradicated, Richards-Kortum, a professor of bioengineering and co-director of Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies, expressed the team’s vision. By creating a comprehensive, field-ready testing kit suitable for use in various community clinics, it may become possible to establish same-day screening and treatment paradigms. Such changes would mark a dramatic shift in global health and have the potential to save lives across populations currently facing significant barriers to adequate healthcare services.
The research carried out was supported by critical partnerships and received essential approvals from multiple institutional review boards, including those at MD Anderson, Harris Health, Rice University, and Mozambique’s National Bioethics Committee. All participants in the study were fully informed and consented, ensuring the ethical integrity of the research process. Furthermore, financial support for the investigation was provided by the National Institutes of Health.
Subject of Research: A rapid, affordable HPV test for cervical cancer screening
Article Title: One-hour extraction-free loop-mediated isothermal amplification HPV DNA assay for point-of-care testing in Maputo, Mozambique
News Publication Date: 7-Aug-2025
Web References: Nature Communications DOI
References: None available
Image Credits: Credit: Rice University
Keywords
Bioengineering, Biomedical engineering, Medical technology, Public health
