First-void urine as a non-invasive liquid biopsy source to detect vaccine-induced human papillomavirus antibodies originating from cervicovaginal secretions

Abstract

Background: Monitoring HPV antibodies non-invasively would be a major advantage for large epidemiological studies and follow-up of vaccinees. Objectives: This study investigated the presence of HPV-specific antibody transudates from systemic circulation in first-void urine of (un)vaccinated subjects and the agreement with paired sera. Study design: In this case-control study, 55 paired first-void urine and serum samples were included from 19- to 26-year-old women, unvaccinated (n = 19) or vaccinated (n = 36) with the bi- or quadrivalent HPV vaccine during adolescence (NCT02714114). Human IgA, total human IgG, and HPV6/11/16/18-Ig(M/G/A) were measured in paired samples. Results: Significant positive Spearman rank correlations (r(s)) were found in HPV-specific antibody levels between paired samples (HPV6: r(s) = 0.777; HPV11: r(s) = 0.757; HPV16: r(s) = 0.876; HPV18: r(s) = 0.636 (p < 0.001)). In both first-void urine and serum, significantly higher HPV6/11/16/18 antibody levels were observed in vaccinated compared with unvaccinated women (p <= 0.017). Conclusions: The present study provides the first proof that vaccine-induced HPV antibodies are detectable in the first-void urine of young women. Moreover, significant positive correlations were observed between HPV6/11/16/18-antibodies in first-void urine and paired sera. Further optimization and validation are required to demonstrate its potential use in epidemiological studies and follow-up of HPV vaccination.