Assessment of Integrin Expression in Endometriosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Study of the Integrin Expression in Endometriosis by Novel In Vivo and In Vitro Assessment.
IRAS ID
302513
Contact name
Christian Becker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Research Ethics Governance and Assurance
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Endometriosis is a common gynaecological disease affecting 10% of the female population due to the presence of uterus-like tissue outside of the uterus, often in the pelvis. The disease causes severe lower abdominal pain mostly during the monthly period, during or after sexual intercourse, and when emptying bowel and bladder. Currently, imaging methods such as ultrasound are ineffective at diagnosing the most common type of endometriosis, pelvic endometriosis. Therefore, we are heavily reliant on invasive surgery to make the diagnosis.
This study aims to investigate the presence of binding proteins (integrins) in endometriotic tissue which will expand our understanding of endometriosis and could be used as a target to develop a non-invasive imaging test in the future.
Women with symptoms consistent with endometriosis, who are due to undergo surgery to diagnose endometriosis at the EndoCare Unit in Oxford, will be eligible to participate. To attempt to visualise the integrins, participants will be asked to attend 2-7 days before their surgery to undergo an imaging scan with a molecular marker that has been found to highlight integrins in other conditions. The possibility of machine learning enhancement of integrin expression will be tested. The findings on the scan will be compared to the findings at surgery. Samples during surgery of endometriosis tissues, the endometrium, and salty water that has been flushed through the uterus, will be analysed in the lab to look for differences in the amount of integrin present in women with and without endometriosis and whether factors such as the phase of the menstrual cycle or hormonal treatment effect the amount seen.REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/SC/0130
Date of REC Opinion
24 May 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion