Clinical Research Directory

C-3002: Enhancing Cervical Cancer Screening Access and Follow-up Care at 'CASCADE' Clinical Sites in the United States

The purpose of the CASCADE-3002 project is to improve access to cervical cancer screening among women with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) receiving care at U.S.-based CASCADE clinical sites. This study will assess the cervical cancer screening cascade and identify multilevel factors that impede access to screening among women with HIV attending Infectious Disease clinics in Georgia and Maryland. In parallel, the study will explore and develop implementation strategies for human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection to increase screening uptake, adherence, and appropriate clinical follow-up in this population at elevated risk for cervical cancer. Cervical cancer remains a preventable malignancy; however, women with HIV are at substantially increased risk and experience higher rates of cervical cancer compared with women without HIV. The World Health Organization has called for the global elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem, defined as fewer than 4 incident cases per 100,000 women annually, with targets for vaccination, screening, and treatment coverage. Although the United States has the tools to approach near-elimination, disparities in healthcare access and screening persist, particularly among women with HIV.

Feasibility Study Comparing Use of One Or Two Probes for Thermal Ablation Among Cervical Cancer Screen Positive Women Living With HIV in C1001P-CS2 Kenya

Cervical cancer disproportionately affects women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly women living with HIV (WLWH) who have a 6-fold increased risk of cervical cancer compared to women in the general population. Thermal ablation (TA) is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to treat cervical precancerous lesions, although its efficacy can be suboptimal in WLWH. In Kenya, the estimated incidence rate of cervical cancer is 31-33 per 100,000 women per year among women without HIV and approximately 70-100 per 100,000 among WLWH. The proposed study will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a two-probe TA technique (endocervical and ectocervical probes) and whether this approach improves treatment outcomes among WLWH compared to one (ectocervical) probe. This innovation has the potential to significantly enhance cervical cancer prevention efforts in high-burden settings. It will also contribute towards achieving the 90-70-90 goals of the WHO strategy for accelerated elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2030.

Point of Care - Triage and Treatment for Cervical Pre-cancer

This study evaluates a modified two-probe thermal ablation protocol using the IRIS™ device and retrospectively assesses an AI-based Automated Visual Evaluation (AVE) triage algorithm among HPV-positive women in El Salvador. The primary objective is to estimate 1-year cure rates of CIN2+ following treatment. A secondary objective is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of AVE compared with histopathology.

Feasibility Study Comparing Use of One Or Two Probes for Thermal Ablation Among Cervical Cancer Screen Positive Women Living With HIV in C1001P-CS5 Rwanda

Cervical cancer disproportionately affects women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly women living with HIV (WLWH) who have a 6-fold increased risk of cervical cancer compared to women in the general population. Thermal ablation (TA) is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to treat cervical precancerous lesions, although its efficacy can be suboptimal in WLWH. This is even more important at a time when Rwanda has launched a National Cervical Cancer Screening Program (NCCSP) with human papillomavirus (HPV) testing and treatment, mainly using TA with unknown outcomes. Therefore, we will conduct a feasibility study (C1001P-CS5) among 300 Rwandan WLWH to provide evidence needed to launch a future effectiveness study. The proposed study will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a two-probe TA technique (endocervical and ectocervical probes) and whether this approach improves treatment outcomes among WLWH compared to one (ectocervical) probe. This innovation has the potential to significantly enhance cervical cancer prevention efforts in high-burden settings. It will also contribute towards achieving the 90-70-90 goals of the WHO strategy for accelerated elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2030. Rwanda hopes to achieve this goal early, in 2027 under Mission 2027.

Feasibility of Intravaginal Artesunate as Adjuvant HPV & Cervical Precancer Treatment in Kenya

The objective of this randomized, placebo-controlled trial is to evaluate whether intravaginal artesunate pessaries (vaginal inserts) can be used as adjuvant therapy following thermal ablation to improve Human papillomavirus (HPV) treatment outcomes in Women Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (WLWH). The study will evaluate whether women who use artesunate will have higher HPV clearance at 6 months, compared to those who used a placebo. The study will also assess the safety, adherence, and acceptability of this treatment. 120 participants will be enrolled in the study. Participants will self-administer the study drug nightly for 5 days, take a week off, and repeat twice (use study drug on weeks 1, 3,5) and will return to the clinic on weeks 2, 4, 6, 12, and week 24 for follow-up.