Prognostic metabolite profiling for cervical cancer risk v1.0

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Prognostic metabolite profiling for HPV persistence and cervical cancer risk

• IRAS ID

  142237

• Contact name

  Hilary Powers

• Contact email

  h.j.powers@sheffield.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS FT

• Research summary

  Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women worldwide. Infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV)is the major causal factor in the occurrence and progression of cervical cell lesions and cervical cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV)infections are usually transient and women in whom HR-HPV infections persist are most at risk of developing cervical cancer. Early detection of cell abnormalities and likelihood of HR-HPV persistence are central to cervical cancer prevention. However, the factors which determine HR-HPV persistence are not well understood, and there is great uncertainty around diagnosis of cell abnormality at primary screening.
  In a pilot study carried out at the University of Sheffield it was found that the profile of metabolites in cervical cells could distinguish women in whom HR-HPV infection persisted from those women who cleared the infection. Furthermore, it was possible to distinguish grades of cell abnormality. This suggests that there is the potential to develop a diagnostic tool which could identify women at increased risk of developing cervical cancer.
  We propose to carry out a larger longitudinal study to develop and validate an analytical tool to identify women at increased risk of developing cervical cancer through harbouring low-grade cell abnormality and having increased risk of HR-HPV persistence. Women will be recruited from colposcopy clinics at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, having tested positive for HR-HPV infection. Cervical cell samples will be collected for the measurement of cell metabolites (’metabolite profiling’). Colposcopy and/or biopsy will confirm grade of cell abnormality, as part of routine screening.
  Women with diagnosed low grade cell abnormality will be recalled after 12 months for repeat HR-HPV testing, as part of routine screening, and the metabolite profile at baseline examined for its ability to predict HR-HPV persistence.
  Results of this study will have the potential to improve patient screening for cervical cancer risk

• REC name

  South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  14/SC/0206

• Date of REC Opinion

  10 Apr 2014

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion