Advancing Earlier Detection of Gynecologic Cancers Through DNA Methylation

Vietnam’s National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gene Solutions jointly organized a scientific symposium to discuss how DNA methylation biomarkers may support earlier detection and more precise risk stratification in gynecologic cancer care.

Advances in the application of DNA methylation biomarkers were the focus of the scientific symposium, “Early Detection of Gynecologic Cancers in the Era of Molecular Biology: The Role of DNA Methylation.”

Held on July 30, 2026, the symposium brought together experts in obstetrics and gynecology, oncology, genetics, and molecular diagnostics. The event provided a multidisciplinary forum for examining unmet needs in gynecologic cancer detection and the potential role of emerging molecular technologies in addressing them.

Throughout the symposium, experts emphasized that detecting cancer at an earlier stage remains critical to improving treatment outcomes and patient prognosis. Despite progress in existing screening methods, important challenges remain, particularly for gynecologic cancers such as endometrial cancer, for which there is currently no widely established population-based screening strategy.
The scientific symposium “Early Detection of Gynecologic Cancers in the Era of Molecular Biology: The Role of DNA Methylation.”

Unmet Needs in Gynecologic Cancer Detection

In his presentation, “Gynecologic Cancer: Clinical Burden and Unmet Needs,” Dr. Van Thang Nguyen, Head of the Department of Gynecologic Oncology at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, discussed current challenges in the early detection and management of gynecologic cancers, including cervical and endometrial cancers.

According to Dr. Thang, Pap smear, HPV testing, and ultrasound have played important roles in gynecologic cancer detection for many years, particularly in cervical cancer screening. However, limitations remain in accurately stratifying risk and predicting which lesions are most likely to progress. For endometrial cancer, the absence of a widely established population-based screening strategy presents an additional challenge to earlier detection.

These limitations may lead some patients to undergo additional procedures, such as colposcopy or biopsy, even when clinically significant disease is not ultimately identified. This can increase emotional stress for patients while adding to the financial and operational burden of care
Dr. Van Thang Nguyen discusses unmet needs in the detection and management of gynecologic cancers in Vietnam.

DNA Methylation as an Emerging Molecular Biomarker

During the symposium, Dr. Sang Hung Tang, Medical Director at Gene Solutions, presented scientific evidence on the potential clinical applications of DNA methylation biomarkers in cervical and endometrial cancer detection and risk assessment.

Unlike conventional approaches that detect the presence of high-risk HPV or evaluate morphological changes in cells, DNA methylation reflects epigenetic alterations associated with the development and progression of cancer.

These molecular changes can occur early in the disease process, potentially providing useful biological information before cancer becomes clinically apparent. DNA methylation biomarkers may therefore help identify individuals at increased risk of developing clinically significant lesions or cancer.

Beyond their potential contribution to earlier detection, DNA methylation biomarkers may also support more precise risk stratification. When interpreted alongside clinical information and the results of existing tests, they could help physicians assess individual risk more accurately and make better-informed decisions regarding follow-up, further evaluation, or clinical intervention.

Dr. Sang Hung Tang presented scientific evidence on the potential clinical applications of DNA methylation biomarkers in gynecologic cancers.

Can DNA Methylation Complement Current Cervical Cancer Screening?

A central question during the panel discussion was whether DNA methylation could eventually serve as an alternative to Pap smear testing or complement HPV testing within cervical cancer screening pathways.

Participants shared a range of perspectives. Experts noted that Pap smear and HPV testing remain widely used in cervical cancer screening programs in Vietnam, while HPV DNA testing also plays an important role in international cervical cancer prevention strategies. Within this context, DNA methylation should not be viewed as a universal replacement for all existing methods.

Instead, methylation testing may offer an additional molecular approach to support risk assessment and clinical decision-making in selected screening and triage pathways.

Clinicians also discussed practical limitations associated with current methods. An HPV-positive result can cause considerable anxiety and emotional distress, even though most HPV infections do not progress to cervical cancer. More precise risk stratification could help patients and physicians better understand the clinical significance of a positive result and determine the most appropriate next steps.

The performance of Pap smear testing can also be influenced by sample quality, slide preparation, interpretation, and the experience of the healthcare professional reviewing the specimen. These challenges may be more pronounced in healthcare settings where standardized procedures, specialist resources, and continuous professional training are not consistently available.

Against this background, clinicians expressed interest in DNA methylation as a potentially objective and scalable molecular approach. In selected screening pathways, it may complement or potentially serve as an alternative to cytology-based triage.

Participants highlighted its potential to reduce dependence on subjective slide interpretation, support more consistent risk assessment, and draw on a growing body of research evaluating the reliability of DNA methylation biomarkers in detecting precancerous lesions and cancer.

Supporting More Personalized Clinical Decisions

Concluding the discussion, Professor Duy Anh Nguyen, Chair of the symposium, noted that the application of DNA methylation biomarkers in gynecologic cancer detection and risk stratification represents an important area of clinical advancement. By providing additional molecular information, these biomarkers may offer physicians a more objective tool for developing personalized patient management and follow-up strategies.

The multidisciplinary discussions reflected growing interest among healthcare professionals in applying molecular biology technologies to women’s health. DNA methylation may help narrow the clinical “grey zone” in risk stratification, where existing test results do not provide sufficient information to determine the most appropriate management strategy.

As scientific evidence continues to develop, methylation biomarkers may support earlier detection, more precise risk assessment, and better-informed patient management across selected areas of gynecologic cancer care.

The collaboration between the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gene Solutions also highlights the importance of connecting clinical expertise with advances in molecular diagnostics. Through continued research, clinical validation, and multidisciplinary exchange, emerging technologies may contribute to more effective and personalized approaches to women’s cancer care.

Learn more about DNA methylation technology and its potential clinical applications in gynecologic cancer assessment: SPOT-MAS Eva brochure.