Dr Marie-Hélène Mayrand, a gynaecologist and researcher at the CRCHUM, heads up a pan-
Canadian clinical research project funded by the Terry Fox Foundation. Her research focuses on patients treated for pre-cancer of the cervix and seeks to identify the most effective way of detecting treatment failures.

Caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer among women in the world (following breast cancer). Fortunately, because of the systematic use of Pap tests as means of screening, this cancer has dropped to 13th place in Canada. This method is generally effective since cervical cancer develops very slowly and remains at a precancerous stage for several years, thereby making it possible to identify it with a Pap test,to treat it when necessary, and more importantly,to prevent the onset of cancer.

Although colposcopy makes it possible to see and remove precancerous lesions, some of these lesions go undetected because they are difficult to see and therefore risk remaining untreated. As such, it is important to validate another more sensitive and reliable technique.

A VAST PAN-CANADIAN STUDY

Over the coming years, ten Canadian research teams will recruit 2,250 women who have been treated for pre-cancer and will monitor them for two years. Six months after the initial treatment, half the women will be monitored by colposcopy and the other half by an HPV test which looks for the virus in cervical secretions. If new lesions are detected, whatever the monitoring technique used, the women will be treated. The goal is to compare the two types of follow-up and to determine which of the two best detects treatment failure or relapse.

Dr Mayrand is convinced that results of this research project will have a positive impact on medical practice since at present there are no guidelines concerning the best  monitoring method. This study will draw on the largest cohort of patients ever  assembled, thereby ensuring the reliability of the findings. Projects of this kind generate interest among patients and gynaecologists alike,” notes Dr Mayrand. Treatment failures will be detected more quickly  and the appropriate measures will be taken without delay. “As well,” adds Mayrand, “our study will make it possible to identify women who are cured and as such can avoid lengthy follow-ups and unnecessary procedures.” In short, there will be immediate benefits for patients.