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The DETECT Study: Discovery and Evaluation of Testing for Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer in Tampons

University of Alabama at Birmingham · with National Cancer Institute (NCI) · NCT03538665

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18–99 · Women only
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Observational
Target enrollment
1700
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
July 1, 2019
Record last updated
July 29, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

BACKGROUND

Endometrial cancer is a common and deadly cancer for women. It is getting more common and deadly because risk factors like age and obesity are increasing. Also, this cancer is becoming more common and deadly for black women than white women. Researchers want to find better ways to take samples and test them for this cancer. They want to study this for a racially diverse population. One way to take samples might be from a tampon. If identified early, endometrial cancer can be highly curable; however, the earliest stages may be asymptomatic, and clinical symptoms are often missed. Combining sensitive molecular testing approaches with non-invasive sampling techniques may to lead to the development of novel endometrial cancer early detection approaches with the potential to overcome disparities in access to care and time to diagnosis and treatment.

In contrast to endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer is typically detected at advanced stages with poor survival since symptoms manifest only late in the disease process and are very unspecific. Racial disparities in ovarian cancer incidence and mortality are also much less pronounced. Racial disparities can manifest particularly when screening, symptom appraisal and early detection, and effective treatment interventions have important roles in determining outcomes of cancers.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study is to see if it is possible and acceptable for individuals to have an endometrial or ovarian sample collected by using a tampon placed in the vagina. The investigators will look at DNA in these samples. DNA is the genetic information participants inherited from their parents. The investigators want to see whether the investigators can find changes in DNA and proteins related to endometrial or ovarian cancer from tampon samples. Tests on the samples from tampons will help to understand endometrial and ovarian cancer. The samples collected during this study will be used for research related to both endometrial and ovarian cancer and non-cancer conditions.

ELIGIBILITY

Women at least ≥18 years undergoing clinically-indicated hysterectomy and/or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for endometrial or ovarian cancer, cancer precursors, or benign conditions.

DESIGN

  • Participants will put a tampon in their vagina at least 30 minutes before their surgery.
  • Participants will take a short survey.
  • The tampon will be collected during the surgery.
  • A small piece of tissue will be collected from the uterus +/- ovary that is removed in surgery.
  • Participants will give a blood sample.
  • Before or after surgery, participants will answer questions. These will be about their medical history and basic data such as age and race.
  • Researchers will follow participants medical records for up to 5 years after the study. Additional blood may be taken from patient if patient agrees.
  • Researchers will study the samples and tampons. They will compare how well cancer and other markers are detected between the samples.

Conditions: Endometrial Cancer; Endometrial Cancer Precursors; Ovarian Cancer; Complex Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA

  • Individuals born with female sex organs (uterus, ovaries, including cis-gender female and transmasculine individuals, hereafter referred to as "women") scheduled for hysterectomy or bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy at the University of Alabama Birmingham's Division of Gynecologic Oncology or Department of Gynecology
  • Age >18 years. We have chosen this age range to include both peri- and postmenopausal women, who are at greatest risk for endometrial cancer.
  • Ability of study participant to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. Women who do not meet this criterion include potential participants who do not speak English or Spanish, or have physical, mental, or emotional problems that prevent them from comprehending the nature of the study. If the potential participant has trouble reading the document, the designated study staff person may read the document to the patient, to include the basic elements of the informed consent document, per 45 CFR §46.116 (a).

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

  • Women who are pregnant are excluded from gynecologic surgery and are therefore not eligible to participate.
  • Individuals who were not born with female sex organs at birth (i.e., cis-gender males and transfeminine individuals) are not eligible for this study as they are not at risk for developing endometrial and ovarian cancer.

Recruiting US locations

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham

    Birmingham, AL 35233

    Site contact: Rebecca Arend, MD, MSPH · (205) 934-5370 · rarend@uabmc.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Rebecca C Arend, MD, MSPH · (205) 934-5370 · rarend@uabmc.edu
  • Megan A Clarke-Corso, Ph.D. · (240) 276-7823 · megan.clarke@nih.gov
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The DETECT Study: Discovery and Evaluation of Testing for… (NCT03538665) | Bored Studies