Lab-on-a-chip Detection of Cervical Cancer Tumour Markers

Overview

This study aims to establish whether tumour markers measured from cytological samples can improve cervical cancer detection both prior to treatment and after treatment during follow up. All patients with presumed early cervical cancer referred to the Gynaecological Oncology Unit at The Royal Marsden Hospital and patients previously surgically treated for early cervical cancer with a suspected recurrence will be invited to participate. Women attending the Colposcopy Unit at St George's Hospital, with a normal cervix will be invited to participate. An endovaginal receiver coil has been designed and developed at the Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust for use at high field strengths (3T). A cytology swab, similar to a smear test, will be used to collect a sample of cells to evaluate the presence of tumour markers. The presence of tumour markers will be measured by a lab-on-a-chip and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing system.

Cervical cytology: This will be done prior to MRI at an out-patient visit or at the scan visit in all study subjects with cancer. IN those patients with a normal cervix at colposcopy, the sample will be taken as part of the colposcopy examination. The procedure will be identical to that used for cervical smear testing and involves the insertion of a speculum and taking a swab from the cervix and/ or vaginal vault for tumour marker assessment on lab-on-a-chip. Additionally, the sample will be examined conventionally to assess cytology. MRI scan: For patients with primary disease, this will be done using an endovaginal technique. A ring design endovaginal coil will be inserted endovaginally around the cervix. It acts as a dedicated receiver, and the substantially improved signal enables high-spatial resolution images to be obtained (voxel size \< 0.5 mm3). In patients being followed up after definitive surgery, in whom recurrence is suspected, MRI will be done using a standard phased array technique if the cervix is absent. In both instances, the MRI sequences will be standard and involve the use of T2-W and diffusion weighted sequences in 3 orthogonal planes. Contrast agents will not be administered. Intramuscular antiperistaltic agents (20 mg hyoscine butylbromide) are used routinely for pelvic imaging. Histological analysis: Biopsies will be obtained from all patients with primary disease. This will be either a cone or LLETZ biopsy. In some cases with clearly visualized tumour due for radical hysterectomy, a punch biopsy may suffice for diagnosis. In patients with suspected recurrence, a biopsy will be obtained if feasible and a visible mass is evident on imaging. In cases without a visible mass, or if biopsy is not feasible, vault cytology will be use as the gold standard. In the absence of adequate histology or cytology for validating the presence or absence of tumour, the patient will be withdrawn from the study. Data Recording: Patient data will be recorded on case report forms. Patient data from case report forms will be recorded on a password protected study database. The MRI images will be placed onto the hospital picture archiving and communications system (PACS) and clinical reports will be available immediately to the referring clinicians. Good Clinical Practice: The trial will be conducted in compliance with the protocol, standard operating procedures, policies, local R\&D management guidance, Good Clinical Practice including the Research Governance Framework 2005 including the current Human Tissue Act, Human Tissue (Quality and Safety for Human Application) Regulations, the Medical Devices Regulations and Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations.