Detection of Endometrial Cancer Through Risk Modelling

Overview

The goal of this study is to combine information on risk factors from health questionnaires with minimally invasive biological tests (vaginal DNA and microbiome swabs, pH, hormones) to predict the risk of endometrial cancer (EC), better understand progression of the disease, and identify opportunities for intervention. This study will recruit patients who are already scheduled to undergo diagnostic evaluation for abnormal uterine bleeding via endometrial biopsy. In Part A, consented participants will be asked to fill out an online risk factor questionnaire. Samples will be collected by the gynecologist at the biopsy appointment. After biopsy results are obtained, all samples from participants diagnosed with EC or precursors, plus a random subset with benign results, will be selected to be sequenced and analyzed. In Part B, that subset of selected non-malignant participants, based on biopsy, will be invited to take part in lifestyle tracking using a Fitbit, questionnaires, and to provide another round of at-home vaginal samples to identify any persistent genetic mutations or microbiome alterations 6-8 months later.

Study Part A 1. Gynecologist Visit 1. Patients over the age of 40 who are scheduled for an appointment for diagnostic evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) with one of the gynecologist study partners, will be invited to participate in this study. Those who consent to participate and undergo a uterine biopsy, which is the standard of care for AUB, will be enrolled in the study. 2. If a biopsy was not anticipated when the appointment was scheduled and therefore the patient was unable to provide consent prior to their appointment, the gynecologist will explain the study and obtain verbal consent to collect the samples and provide the patient's contact information to the study coordinator. The coordinator will contact the patient as soon as possible to explain the study and obtain informed consent. 2. Primary Sample Collection 1. During the standard biopsy procedure, the gynecologist will also collect study specific samples including: swabs for vaginal DNA and microbiome samples, a pH litmus test strip, and a saliva sample kit. 2. Participants will consent to have their electronic medical records including biopsy results shared with the study team as part of the study. A member of the study team will further call the location where the endometrial biopsy occurred to ask for any remaining specimen that could be used for comparison to the vaginal swab DNA sequencing, as indicated on the consent form. 3. Email - REDCap Risk Questionnaire a. Participants will receive an email from a study coordinator with a link to a REDCap epidemiological risk questionnaire. The 5-10 minute survey will provide the information needed to compute their absolute risk of being diagnosed with EC in the next 5 years. Absolute risks will be calculated using the validated Pfeiffer et al. model (PMID 23935463). Study Part B 4. Selection, Consent and MyCap Enrolment 1. After the biopsy results are reviewed, participants will be selected to have their specimen from Part A sequenced and analyzed. For budget reasons, only those participants diagnosed with endometrial cancer or hyperplasia (with or without atypia) will be sequenced and analyzed, along with twice as many randomly selected participants with benign diagnoses. 2. Participants diagnosed with EC or endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) will likely be recommended a hysterectomy, as per standard of care, and will be ineligible to continue in the next phase, since they will no longer be at risk for uterine cancer. 3. All remaining participants diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia (EH) without atypia and the non-malignant biopsy participants who were selected for sequencing will be contacted to participate in Study Part B. The study coordinator will explain this portion of the study and the procedures involved. If the participant is interested, the study coordinator will assist them in downloading MyCap, a mobile app integration for REDCap to register for the study and provide electronic consent. Participants will be mailed a Fitbit fitness tracker to monitor their lifestyle, activity and sleep patterns, along with instructions on how to set it up. They will be asked to manually report daily step counts and sleep data from their FitBit into MyCap app until the time of their second sample collection, at least 6 months later. 5. Second Sample Collection 1. After approximately 6-8 months, participants will receive an at-home collection kit in the mail with a tampon and swab for DNA collection along with a vaginal microbiome sampling kit, a vaginal pH testing kit, and a saliva kit (n\~200). The investigators will ask that participants not have sexual intercourse, use vaginal medications, feminine sprays, douches, genital wipes or contraceptive spermicides for at least 48 hours before providing sample collection. * Tampon and swab #1: DNA will be collected from a tampon worn for 6-8 hours as well as by self-sample using a vaginal swab. * Swab #2: Vaginal microbiome samples will be obtained with a second vaginal swab using the DNAGenotek Inc. OMNIgene vaginal collection kit. * pH measurement: The pH kit will contain an indicator strip and a reference colour sheet; participants will be asked to take a photo of the strip next to the reference colour sheet as well as record the result in MyCap. * Saliva: A saliva collection kit (Affinity Diagnostics) will be used for hormone measurements and additional DNA extraction, if necessary. 2. Participants will be provided with a postage paid return mailing envelope to send the samples. They will be prompted through MyCap to indicate when they receive their kits, when they are completed, and when they are mailed back. 6. Molecular Analysis and Results 1. All samples will be processed and stored for follow-up investigations by batch. The investigators will prioritize genetic sequencing and screening of samples from participants in which the investigators observed cancer-associated DNA mutations in samples collected in Part A. 2. It is important to understand that genetic mutations or alterations are fairly common in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding; and the majority will resolve on their own after shedding of the uterine lining. Because of this, and the fact that these initial analyses are experimental and are done for research purposes only, genetic results will not be communicated to participants. The significance of genetic mutations or microbiome alterations is not yet interpretable at this stage in the investigator's research. 3. However, if the investigators discover that the same specific mutations or microbiome alterations are persistent in the second vaginal samples collected 6-8 months later, the participant and their gynecologist will be notified. The treating gynecologist will determine what, if any, follow-up or monitoring is appropriate. 8\) Exit Survey a. Participants, depending on the stage at which they exit the study, will be asked about their experience with the sample collection during biopsy, the risk questionnaire, the MyCap app, and the at-home sample collection.