Detect Primary Care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Determining the feasibility and acceptability of urogenital cytology for the diagnosis of endometrial cancer in primary care
IRAS ID
256373
Contact name
Emma Crosbie
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Womb cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer in the UK. The majority of women with womb cancer will experience symptoms such as abnormal vaginal bleeding after the menopause when the tumour is still small, or even in its pre-cancerous phase. All women who present to their GP with post-menopausal bleeding are therefore referred urgently for a series of investigations to exclude cancer including an internal ultrasound scan, camera test and a biopsy. However, only 1 in 20 women who present with bleeding after the menopause will have an eventual diagnosis of womb cancer meaning the majority undergo unnecessary invasive investigations. Furthermore, these investigations can be technically difficult and painful in some women.
If diagnosed early, women have an excellent prognosis. However, 20% of women present with advanced disease with poor 5-year survival rates. We are currently investigating a new test in secondary care to see whether womb cancer cells can be picked up in the urine, vagina or on the cervix using tests that are routinely used in cervical screening. This new test that could help to decide who really needs these investigations and who can be safely managed without them We want to see whether this test can be used in primary care and whether it is acceptable to patients and clinicians. We are going to ask 50 women with bleeding after the menopause to take part in the study. Women will have provided urine and vaginal samples as part of the Detect Multicentre study.
We will then ask patients, GPs and practice nurses to complete a questionnaire regarding the acceptability of the test, some of whom will be asked to participate in an interview. The study will take place in GP practices and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and is funded by the NIHR.REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SC/0206
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jun 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion