< Back to previous page

Project

Biomarkers in first-void urine for improved diagnosis and monitoring of cervical (pre)cancer.

Cervical cancer remains a significant problem worldwide, in Belgium, yearly over 200 women die from this disease. Almost all cervical cancer cases are caused by an infection with high-risk (hr) types of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Traditional screening programs based on cervical smear taking (pap smear) detecting abnormal cells face numerous limitations, urging the need for alternative screening approaches. Detection of hrHPV DNA instead of abnormal cervical cells has proven more sensitive in detecting cervical cancer cases, however, it lacks clinical specificity, i.e. the ability to detect solely those women who require follow-up or immediate referral for colposcopy. Therefore, the major objective of this study is to analyse candidate biomarkers for diagnosis of cervical (pre)cancer and disease monitoring in home-collected first-void (FV) urine samples, followed by translation of the presence of (1) hrHPV DNA and (2) these biomarkers into a novel screening algorithm for cervical cancer. Hereto, we will conduct two clinical trial studies, where women (=30 years) diagnosed with an abnormal pap smear will be asked to provide a FV morning urine sample. In the first study, we aim to identify accurate biomarkers for respectively low-, and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. In a second study, multiple samples will be collected over time (longitudinal sample collection) to identify biomarkers that can predict pro- or regression of HPV infection/precancerous lesions.
Date:1 Oct 2017 →  30 Sep 2019
Keywords:CERVICAL CANCER, BIOMARKERS
Disciplines:Diagnostics, Laboratory medicine, Medicinal products
Project type:Collaboration project