Jennifer Smith, PhD, a UNC Lineberger member and professor in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, was senior author of a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology that compared two cervical cancer treatments for HIV-positive women in South Africa.
For the study, researchers led a randomized, controlled trial to compare two of the most common treatments for pre-cancer cervical lesions among HIV-seropositive women: cryotherapy and Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) treatment efficacy.
They found that rates of cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia were lower after LEEP than cryotherapy at six months, but both treatments were effective in reducing rates by more than 70 percent by 12 months. Relatively high recurrence rates were seen in both treatment arms by 12 months. Researchers recommended that a different be considered to treat cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia in HIV-seropositive women.
In addition to Smith, other authors on the paper included: Busola Sanusi, MA; Avril Swarts, MSc; Mark Faesen, FCOG; Simon Levin, FRCOG; Bridgette Goeieman, MBBCh; Sibongile Ramotshela;Ntombiyenkosi Rakhombe; Anna L. Williamson, PhD; Pam Michelow, MD; Tanvier Omar, FCPATH; Michael G Hudgens, PhD; and Cynthia Firnhaber MD.