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Researchers have developed a new test to identify womb cancer that is more accurate and less invasive than the usual diagnostic procedure.
While womb cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women in the UK, it can be difficult to detect, as the main symptom for the disease is usually abnormal bleeding and this can be mistaken for several other benign (non-cancerous) conditions.
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Early research shows that the new test, named the WID™-qEC, can detect womb cancer more accurately than current methods, and may work equally well on all women, something current testing methods cannot do.
The transvaginal ultrasound test is less accurate for Black women
The test examines three regions of DNA that show different levels of methylation (a type of modification ‘on top’ of the DNA, in those with or without cancer) collected from a vaginal swab.
DNA methylation levels are measured by PCR, which is relatively low-cost and used routinely in clinical diagnostic labs, for example in the detection of coronavirus.
Due to the nature of the test, it can be performed either in clinic or at home. This differs from the usual procedure, a transvaginal ultrasound, where a small scanner probe is placed into the vagina.
This provides a detailed picture of the inside of the womb and help look for signs of a thickened womb lining (endometrium). If a thickened womb lining is detected, then the endometrium is visually inspected by hysteroscopy. A biopsy will also be taken if needed.
These procedures can be invasive and painful, and can be a less reliable method of womb cancer detection, particularly for Black women.
However, early results from WID™-qEC show that the test was as effective for all groups “ regardless of age, ethnicity, being pre- or post-menopausal, and the stage, grade and type of cancer they have.
The test was found to be more specific than the transvaginal ultrasound
To assess the test’s reliability, the researchers used 1,288 cervical screening samples from women both with and without womb cancer, collected by a large team of investigators across the UK and Europe.
The test successfully identified all eight cases of womb cancer within a cohort of 63 women presenting with post-menopausal bleeding. It was found to be reliable both when the sample was taken by a medical professional and self-collected with a vaginal swab.
While roughly one in 10 were given a false positive result, the test is still more specific than the transvaginal ultrasound.
The simplicity and accuracy of test offers “real advantages for detecting womb cancer early”
Professor Widschwendter said: “It was critical to us that this research addressed all of the issues associated with current detection methods for womb cancer. Most importantly, using our test, far fewer women with abnormal bleeding will have to undergo invasive diagnostic procedures. Our test does not depend on the operator and results can be returned quickly, reducing anxiety.
“Post-menopausal women with abnormal bleeding have a one in 10 chance of having womb cancer; for pre-menopausal women the chance is much lower (as low as 1 in 200). For these women the simplicity and accuracy of the WID™-qEC test offers real advantages for detecting womb cancer early.
“We want to thank all of the teams in the collaboration who helped to deliver this improved early detection method for womb cancer.”
