Application of innovations in women with suspected endometrial cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Clinical application and evaluation of advanced diagnostic tools in women with suspected endometrial cancer.
IRAS ID
210195
Contact name
Sadaf Ghaem-Maghami
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
8 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The aim of this research is to evaluate new technologies that can be used to diagnose women with womb (endometrial) cancer.\n\nCurrently, the management of women with suspected womb cancer varies. Most will undergo an internal ultrasound and biopsy (sample of tissue lining the womb). Some women may also need a hysteroscopy (small camera inserted into the womb to visualise the womb lining) and a directed biopsy. The biopsy results usually takes up to 2 weeks to process. Once a diagnosis of cancer is confirmed on biopsy, women get imaged to assess the level of spread. Current gold standard is an MRI. A large proportion of women, however, are unable to undergo or complete an MRI scan due to their morbid obesity or claustrophobia.\n\nThe purpose of this research is:\n1) To ascertain if a directed biopsy can be performed under ultrasound without the need for hysteroscopy. This procedure is likely to be quicker, cheaper and better tolerated than hysteroscopy. \n2) To determine if three-dimensional ultrasound can be used as a safe, effective and cheaper alternative to MRI to stage endometrial cancer.\n3) To determine if ultrasound and MRI and MR spectroscopy models can predict tumour grade, type and prognosis. \n4) To see whether REIMS, Rapid Evaporative Ionization Mass Spectrometry (which is a unique mass spectrometry device that can analyse tissues quickly) can diagnose endometrial (womb) cancer and pre-cancer from tissue samples taken in clinic. This will enable doctors to give a diagnosis on the same day in clinic, for the first time; instead of sending tissue for routine histological examination. REIMS works by burning the tissue sample and analysing the components of the gas produced. Each tissue has a unique signature so the gas produced by burning cancer gives a different signal to normal tissue.
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0173
Date of REC Opinion
18 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion