Human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer, is the focus of a new $2 million prevention initiative led by the University of South Florida Health (USF) and Tampa General Hospital (TGH). The effort aims to expand screening and early detection, particularly in rural communities across Florida.
Dr. Matthew Anderson, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and associate director of research analytics and shared resources at the TGH Cancer Institute, said HPV is extremely common during the teenage years.
“It's very common. For some people, the virus can persist and reactive from time to time, driven by reasons we do not understand. It causes problems at areas, not just in the cervix, but in the rectum, head, neck and other locations,” Anderson said. “Its by far the most sensitive area to the HPV is the human cervix. Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide."
Despite medical advancements, Anderson said cervical cancer rates have increased over the past 10 to 15 years, particularly among women in rural Florida.
“In Hernando County, 75% of residents have been diagnosed with cervical cancer and some are at an advanced stage where surgery is no longer possible,” he said.
With this new funding, USF Health and TGH will implement AI-based tools at four high-volume primary care clinics serving rural populations. The goal is to streamline screening and follow-up care through a more coordinated system.
“We will identify who needs a pap smear and can offer them a kit where they can self-examine at the doctors office, if they need one,” Anderson said.
Once the test results are processed, the system will assess the risk of abnormal findings and recommend net steps, helping speed up diagnosis and treatment.
“Delayed diagnosis fundamentally changes a cancer patient’s trajectory,” said Dr. Eduardo Sotomayor, vice president and executive director of the TGH Cancer Institute in a press release. “This forward-thinking project brings together the operational strengths of Tampa General Hospital and the academic expertise of USF Health to ensure rural patients can access timely screening and specialty care before disease progresses.”
This new approach is designed to make screens more accessible and less invasive. Patients may be able to complete the test privately during a routine visit, eliminating vulnerability and multiple appointments.
“This option has been integrated into standards of care, national screening organizations have incorporated this into their recommendations for care and its FDA proof, the last six months. Now we can begin to offer this to patients,” Anderson said.
Anderson said the project began development in October and is currently in the implementation phase. The next phase will be receiving feedback from the tests. If the tests are abnormal, the software will use AI to provide different data and give recommendations to help the doctors make the decision without having to use a risk-based algorithm, which is less efficient and slower.
Anderson said future plans could allow patients to complete tests at home and mail them in, allowing doctors to reach out directly and helping eliminate barriers to care.
“This project is about making the healthcare system, using state-of -the-art informatic tools to make the healthcare system work better for patients. We want to get care out in the community where it can now be easier to get care and have less travel time,” Anderson said. “People are only willing to drive about 40 minutes for healthcare.”
The screenings will be covered by insurance, with the goal of detecting cervical cancer earlier and improving patient outcomes.
While the new option offers greater flexibility, Anderson emphasized that annual pelvic exams remain important. However, patients may now have the choice to self-collect samples instead of undergoing a traditional pap smear performed by a physician.