Establishing a Cervical Cytology Biorepository: A Protocol for Advancing Translational Cervical Cancer Research through Biobanking
Abstract
Background:
Cervical cancer remains a major global health concern, with disparities in screening access and outcomes, particularly among younger women in the United States. Although high-risk human papillomavirus infection is the primary etiologic factor, nongenetic and environmental contributors remain underexplored. We established the Sacred Womb Cervical Cytology Biorepository to support research on cervical cancer risk, molecular biomarkers, and gynecologic health disparities.
Methods:
We implemented standardized protocols for the recovery, processing, and long-term storage of residual ThinPrep Papanicolaou (Pap) specimens from women aged 21 to 65 receiving routine gynecologic care across VCU Health outpatient clinics. Core elements included an opt-out consent model, an Institutional Review Board–approved waiver for discarded cytology material, electronic health record linkage for longitudinal clinical data, and workflows for specimen recovery, aliquoting, and processing of pellet and supernatant fractions. Specimens are cryostored at −80°C with quality control checks and secure data governance.
Results:
The biorepository supports standardized recovery and processing of residual Pap specimens, yielding sufficient postdiagnostic volume and enabling high-quality genomic DNA extraction and metabolomic profiling. Pilot genomic and metabolomic data demonstrate that residual cervical cytology material provides adequate input for multiomic analyses, confirming feasibility and scalability.
Conclusions:
This protocol outlines a framework for establishing a cervical cytology biobank using residual clinical specimens. The integration of biospecimens with linked clinical and demographic data enables multidimensional research into cervical cancer etiologies and other gynecologic conditions.
Impact:
This resource supports molecular epidemiology studies aimed at identifying biomarkers, understanding cervical cancer progression, and addressing reproductive health disparities in diverse populations.
