The smear test for cancer undertaken by young women could be used to test for a range of diseases using DNA technology, researchers reported last night.
The test, known as a Pap smear, is currently used to identify risk of cervical cancer.
But, according to the new research, the samples could also be tested for DNA and this would spot two other kinds of female cancer, endometrial – cancer of the lining of the womb – and ovarian.
In the US research DNA testing was 100% successful at identifying women with endometrial cancer.
And it also proved able to identify 40% of women with ovarian cancer.
Although the success rate is low, the researchers say the test would have the "most dramatic impact" on ovarian cancer as the disease is often difficult to diagnose.
The researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical School, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, reported their findings in Science Translational Medicine.
Researcher Isaac Kinde said: "The woman is going to get one Pap smear a year and these tests are done on the same Pap smear specimen. We take the same Pap smear and extend its use."
Evaluation of DNA from the Papanicolaou Test to Detect Ovarian and Endometrial Cancers. Science Translational Medicine 9 January 2013
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