Is Proflavine Exposure Associated with Disease Progression in Women with Cervical Dysplasia? A Brief Report.

Abstract

Proflavine is an acridine dye used with high-resolution microendoscopy for in vivo diagnostic evaluation of cervical epithelial cells. However, there are concerns that even short-term exposure of cervical tissue to dilute proflavine may increase cervical cancer risk. We performed a retrospective analysis of women referred for colposcopy to Barretos Cancer Hospital comparing the risk of cervical disease progression in those whose cervical tissue was (n = 232) or was not exposed (n = 160) to proflavine. Patients in both groups underwent treatment and follow-up based on histopathologic results and per the local standards of care. Progression of disease was evaluated by comparing histopathology from the initial visit to the worst subsequent histopathology result from all follow-up visits. Mean duration of follow-up was 18.7 and 20.1 months for the proflavine-exposed and controls groups, respectively. There were no significant differences in disease progression from normal/CIN1 to CIN2/3 or from any initial diagnosis to invasive cancer between the proflavine exposed and control groups overall. Risks of cervical dysplasia progression observed in this study are in agreement with those of the natural history of cervical cancer. Our results suggest that cervical exposure to dilute proflavine does not increase the risk of cervical precancer and cancer.

• Authors: Naitielle Pantano, Brady Hunt, Richard A Schwarz, Sonia Parra, Katelin Cherry, Júlio César Possati-Resende, Adhemar Longatto-Filho, José Humberto Tavares Guerreiro Fregnani, Philip E Castle, Kathleen Schmeler, Rebecca Richards-Kortum
• Journal: Photochemistry and photobiology (Photochem Photobiol) Vol. 94 Issue 6 Pg. 1308-1313 (11 2018) ISSN: 1751-1097 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 29981148 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: © 2018 The Authors. Photochemistry and Photobiology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Photobiology.

Chemical References

• Contrast Media
• Proflavine

Topics

• Adult
• Cervix Uteri (diagnostic imaging, metabolism, pathology)
• Colposcopy (methods)
• Contrast Media (administration & dosage)
• Disease Progression
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Proflavine (administration & dosage)
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk
• Uterine Cervical Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, metabolism, pathology)
• Uterine Cervical Dysplasia (diagnostic imaging, metabolism, pathology)