Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer found in Thai women. The main cause is the HPV virus, or Human papillomavirus, which has more than 200 strains. Among these, there are 14 high-risk strains that can lead to cancer, including 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68.
In the fiscal year 2020, the Department of Science designated Medical Science Centers 3, 7, 9, and 12 as pilot agencies to provide cervical cancer screening services using the HPV DNA test. The Medical Science Center 3 in Nakhon Sawan established a molecular biology laboratory and provided testing services in Health Zone 3.
This is the basis for the survey of the prevalence of HPV strains among Thai women who underwent HPV DNA testing from the health region 3 in the provinces of Phichit, Chainat, Kamphaeng Phet, and Uthai Thani, to use as baseline data for selecting appropriate vaccines for the local population.
From the survey conducted between March and September 2021, with a total of 28,870 cases, 2,220 cases of high-risk HPV infection were found (7.69%). The prevalence of single HPV infections in the top 5 strains was as follows: strains 52, 16, 58, 68, 66, and 39 at 1.35%, 0.86%, 0.63%, 0.63%, 0.54%, and 0.49%, respectively.
Strain 52 and strain 16 are the first two found in all four provinces (Phichit, Chainat, Kamphaeng Phet, and Uthai Thani). Strain 58 was found in third place in Chainat and Kamphaeng Phet, while strain 68 was found in third place in Phichit and Uthai Thani.
The results are consistent with the survey of HPV infection prevalence at Lampang Cancer Hospital (the cervical cancer screening unit using HPV DNA test in the upper northern region), where the top three strains found are the same: strains 52, 16, and 58, and the prevalence of each strain is similar. Even though the two surveyed areas differ in distance, population size, and lifestyle behaviors.
This survey data can be used as a guideline for selecting the appropriate vaccine for the local population or lead to the development of vaccines that cover more strains of the HPV virus.
Source:
ศิริญญา เพชรพิชัย, ณัฐพร คล้ายคลึง, และอมรรัตน์ โพธิ์ตาม. (2567). ความชุกของสายพันธุ์เอชพีวีจากการตรวจคัดกรองมะเร็งปากมดลูกด้วยวิธี HPV DNA test ชนิด 14 สายพันธุ์ความเสี่ยงสูงในเขตสุขภาพที่ 3. วารสารวิชาการสาธารณสุข, 33(1), 63-73.
by Aunyarat Techanan