Avanços tecnológicos e políticas públicas no diagnóstico do câncer do colo do útero no Brasil: uma revisão da literatura sobre o exame papanicolaou, técnicas de biologia molecular e análise de proteoma

Abstract

This article analyzes technological developments in the screening and diagnosis of cervical cancer throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. This is an integrative review of the Pap smear, molecular biology techniques applied to diagnosis and proteome analysis. The literature review highlights the preventive Pap smear as the main screening method used in the country, which, together with molecular biology techniques, enables the detection and genotyping of HPV, while proteomic analysis, which is capable of evaluating the expression of proteins specific in precursor lesions, opening paths for more specific diagnoses. Furthermore, the development of public policies used in Brazil over the years against cervical cancer is demonstrated.