Novel markers to improve detection of CIN in menopausal women
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Biomarkers in colposcopy and HPV genotypes in women aged over 50 years (BioCOHGS50+)
IRAS ID
268850
Contact name
Emmanouil Kalampokas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 30 days
Research summary
In Scotland, change in the cervical screening protocol suggests that screening tests continue up to 64 years of age supporting data that women beyond the age of 60 remain at risk of cervical cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted virus related to cervical precancerous lesions (which are commonly detected with cervical smears) and highly contributing to cervical cancer.
A diagnostic challenge in menopausal cervical smears is to differentiate pre-cancerous abnormalities from normal atrophic cervical epithelium based on cell morphology alone. A precise histological diagnosis of these pre-cancerous abnormalities is important as a great majority of those will need to be treated with invasive procedures which are related to pain, intra-operative bleeding, and infection or exposed to unnecessary prolonged surveillance causing stress to patient.
Aging results in immune senescence with many HPV infections in older women attributable to reactivation of previously acquired by latent infections. Also, as there is a dramatic fall in hysterectomies, the number of older women with cervical disease will be increased. Special markers are used by pathologists to help diagnosis. However, the current proposed markers have not been validated in women older than 50 years. Thus, novel markers may be required which identify not only pre-cancerous lesions but disease which is likely to be clinically significant and destined to progress, from disease which may regress or other benign processes, like atrophy. Our aim is to identify an effective novel marker which may be able to avoid unnecessary treatment and prolonged surveillance.
REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1224
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion