Clinical Research Directory

Early Detection of Endometrial/Ovarian Cancer and Hereditary Predisposition of These Cancers

Early stage high-grade cancer, endometrial and ovarian, has few, if any, symptoms or signs. When symptoms appear, the disease is commonly in advanced stage meaning it has left the gynaecological organs and metastasized to the pelvic/abdominal cavity. The McGill research group had showed in the DOvEE trial (NCT02296307), that fast-track assessment with transvaginal ultrasound scans (TVUS) and serial CA125 of women with vague symptoms associated with ovarian and endometrial cancer did diagnose these cancers earlier in the disease trajectory, with low-volume resectable disease, but only after the cancer had already become Stage III. One way to detect these cancers earlier is to screen asymptomatic women. Unfortunately, none of the currently available tests, including TVUS and CA-125 have been shown to be useful for screening for ovarian or endometrial cancer. The McGill team has developed a genomic assay to screen and detect these cancers earlier in the trajectory than is currently the case. The test identifies pathogenic somatic mutations (necessary early steps in the development of these cancers), in an uterine cytological sample. It is able to do so by incorporating a machine-learning derived classifier that can discriminate the mutational signature of these cancers from benign disease with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 100% in a healthy population of peri- and post-menopausal women. In addition to the uterine sample, the test includes a saliva sample that acts as an internal control but can also identify germline pathogenic variants that predispose to hereditary endometrial/ovarian cancers as well as breast, pancreas, and colon cancers. The test was developed in a retrospective population in whom the assay was done pre-operatively and the diagnosis of malignancy versus benign gynecological disease was confirmed by detailed pathological analysis of the uterus, tubes, and ovaries after surgical resection (NCT02288676). The test is now ready to be tested as a phase III diagnostic test in the general population to see if these results are just as promising in the community at large.

Optimizing Bronchopulmonary Cancer Screening

The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of performing a first screening for bronchopulmonary cancer by thoracic scanner in a French cohort within a dedicated, effective and structured network in the pilot centers participating in the study.

Artificial Intelligence for Highly Myopic Cataract

This study aims to establish a multi-center artificial intelligence model for the accurate calculation of intraocular lens and its clinical application in highly myopic cataract, so as to improve the accuracy of the prediction of postoperative diopter in highly myopic cataract patients.

Can VI-RADS/ADC Accurately Stage Bladder Cancer??

Vesical Imaging-Reporting And Data System (VI-RADS) is proposed for predicting muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) using multi-parametric MRI. However, No validation study on VI-RADS has been reported yet. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values on diffusion-weighted MRI are reportedly significantly lower in MIBC than those in non-MIBC(NMIBC).

TB-CAPT MTB/XDR Study

The Cepheid Xpert MTB/XDR cartridge, which runs on the same platform as Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra, has been developed to detect additional resistance to isoniazid, fluoroquinolones and second-line injectable anti-tuberculosis drugs and provides results within 2 hours and on primary samples. An evaluation of the the Xpert MTB/XDR assay is currently underway in clinical settings in South Africa, India and Moldova. The TB-CAPT MTB/XDR Study will add further diagnostic accuracy and feasibility data to the evidence base for the Xpert MTB/XDR assay.

Detection of Lipoarabinomannan in Urine Evaluation of the STANDARDTMF TBLAMFIA and Its Impact on the Initial TB Diagnosis

Evaluation of the performance of an in vitro test, the STANDARDTM F TB LAM Ag FIA (SD BIOSENSOR, INC.) for the early diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) infection. This test is for in vitro professional diagnostic use and intended as an aid to early diagnosis of tuberculosis infection. The test will be used according to the instructions for use (IFU).

Establish Diagnostic Models Based on Portal Venous Blood for Pancreatic Cancer

Explore new markers based on portal venous blood sampling to establish novel diagnostic models for identification of malignant pancreatic mass.

Socioeconomic Inequalities in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Colon and Ovarian Cancer in England Between 2016-2017

This study is a population-based, patient-level analysis of colon and ovarian cancer diagnoses in England over a 2-year period using a dataset created by linking NCRAS and NHS digital datasets. Our analyses will look into inequalities in the diagnostic and treatment pathway, and inequalities in treatment received, for those diagnosed with colon and ovarian cancer between 2016-2017.