A new woman-friendly self-test to detect endometrial cancer

Project summary

Cancer in the uterus (or endometrial cancer) is common in the Netherlands: 2000 women develop it every year. The prevalence of endometrial cancer increases, partly due to its relationship with obesity and aging. If endometrial cancer is detected at an early stage, this has an advantage for treatments that are possible and for survival. Of women who have endometrial cancer at an early stage, 72-96% are still alive 5 years after diagnosis. In the coming ten years the global cancer diagnostics market is expected to grow from 180 billion euros to 360 billion euros. Earlier detection of endometrial cancer improves survival rates and reduces the financial burden of cancer treatment.

In this public private partnership of Erasmus MC University Medical Center and Methylomics B.V. a vaginal self-test based on DNA methylation markers will be investigated. A previous study showed that this test can reliably detect or exclude endometrial cancer. A reliable and patient-friendly home-based test is woman-friendly compared to the current methods (an ultrasound, endometrial biopsy and/or hysteroscopy) and can result in significant cost saving for the health care system by saving physical visits to the doctor. To be sure that the test works well, we want to investigate the test in a larger group of women with symptoms of postmenopausal blood loss. If the test still works well, it may be used for multiple groups. Firstly, to detect or exclude endometrial cancer in the case of vaginal bleeding during or after menopause, but possibly in the future also as a test to detect endometrial cancer in women who have a higher chance of this disease due to a hereditary predisposition. Finally, we hope that the test can be used in the future in a population study for endometrial cancer, which does not yet exist.