The invention is in the field of medicine and is concerned with a molecular diagnostic marker for progression to invasiveness of HPV-induced premalignant lesions and future metastatic potential of HPV-induced premalignant lesions and carcinomas. In particular the present invention relates to the use of the TSLC1 gene as marker for progression to invasive cervical cancer and metastatic potential of cervical lesions. The invention provides methods for detecting HPV-induced invasive cancers and their precursor lesions associated with tumor suppressor lung cancer 1 (TSLC1), comprising contacting a target cellular component of a test cell with a reagent that detects TSLC1 and detecting a reduction in the TSLC1 as compared to that of a comparable normal cell. The invention also provides molecular diagnostic markers for premalignant cervical lesions with invasive potential associated with tumor suppressor lung cancer 1 (TSLC1) in cytologically abnormal cervical smears and/or biopsies.