To detect the methylation of the tumor suppressor gene MSF1 in the cervical cast-off cells, in order to explore the application of DNA methylation detection in the triage of women undergoing colposcopy.

One hundred patients who underwent colposcopy at Peking University Shougang Hospital from June 2019 to January 2020 were selected, among whom 87 were biopsied. At the same time, cervical exfoliated cells were collected to detect the methylation of the tumor suppressor gene MSF1. The results of DNA methylation and colposcopic biopsy were statistically analyzed. The thinprep cytologic test (TCT) combined with human papilloma virus (HPV) screening was compared with DNA methylation detection for their prediction results for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and above lesions. According to HPV type, the patients were divided into either group 1 (HPV16/18 positive) or group 2 (non-HPV16/18 positive), and the results of DNA methylation and colposcopic biopsy were statistically analyzed.

Compared with the gold standard colposcopic biopsy pathological results, DNA methylation detection in the overall analysis of 87 cases with colposcopic biosy had a negative predictive value of 95.52%, positive predictive value of 90.91%, sensitivity of 90.91%, and specificity of 95.52%, with an AUC value of 0.83 (P＜0.05). The rate of HSIL and above lesions predicted by TCT combined with HPV screening in 100 cases patients with colposcopy was 33.00%. The positive predictive rate of HSIL and above lesions by DNA methylation was 90.91%. In the HPV16/18 positive group, the negative predictive value of DNA methylation test was 94.74%, the positive predictive value was 95.83%, the sensitivity was 95.83%, the specificity was 94.74%, and the AUC was 0.85 (P＜0.05); in the non-16/18 HPV positive group, the corresponding values were 95.84%, 77.78%, 77.78%, 95.84%, and 0.836 (P＜0.05).

There is a high coincidence rate between DNA methylation detection and colposcopy biopsy pathological results. DNA methylation test has a higher accuracy in predicting HSIL than TCT combined with HPV screening. Patients with HPV16/18 infection and positive DNA methylation are more likely to have high-grade cervical lesions.