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

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.

Sex

Female

Minimum age

18 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* • Patients with presumed early stage cervical cancer (squamous or adenocarcinoma on histology) being considered for curative surgery.

  * Patients treated surgically for cervical cancer (squamous or adenocarcinoma on histology) being followed-up for suspected recurrent disease.
  * Patients with normal cervix at colposcopy examination.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Ferromagnetic metal implants, claustrophobia (MRI incompatibility). Neuroendocrine or unusual histological subtypes. Abnormal cervix seen at colposcopy examination (for Normal cervix cohort).