Research into womb cancer
Researchers are looking at diagnosing and treating womb cancer.
Go to Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials database if you are looking for a trial for womb cancer in the UK. You need to talk to your specialist if there are any trials that you think you might be able to take part in.
Some of the trials on this page have now stopped recruiting people. It takes time before the results are available. This is because the trial team follow the patients for a period of time and collect and analyse the results. We have included this ongoing research to give examples of the type of research being carried out in womb cancer.
Research and clinical trials
All cancer treatments must be fully researched before they can be used for everyone. This is so we can be sure that:
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they work
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they work better than the treatments already available
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they are safe
To make sure the research is accurate, each trial has certain entry conditions for who can take part. These are different for each trial.
Hospitals do not take part in every clinical trial. Some trials are only done in a small number of hospitals, or in one area of the country. You may need to travel quite far if you take part in these trials.
Research into diagnosing womb cancer
Clinical trials are looking at different ways to diagnose womb cancer.
Vibrational Spectroscopy
Researchers want to find an objective, accurate test that helps them detect womb pre cancer and cancer early. The test also needs to show the spread of cancer cells to lymph nodes.This way, lymph nodes will only be removed if necessary.
The researchers are using 2 types of vibrational spectroscopy in this trial:
- Attenuated Total Reflection - Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy
- Raman spectroscopy
These methods are non invasive and objective. They use the interaction of light with body tissues. This helps researchers get detailed information about the chemical substances in the tissue samples.
The researchers are using vibrational spectroscopy to look for womb pre cancer and cancer changes in:
- blood plasma and serum
- womb
biopsies 
- pelvic and para aortic lymph nodes
The goal of this trial is to develop a test and tool that can be used during surgery to help screen for and diagnose womb cancer. The test will:
- speed up womb cancer diagnosis
- reduce treatment delays
- individualise patient care
Using MRI scans to get more information about prognosis
Doctors use scans such as to get pre treatment information. Doctors use the FIGO system for womb cancer staging. The MRI stage, in combination with biopsy results and examination, helps doctors to explain to patients their prognosis.
Currently, information from MRI scans shows the anatomy and local cancer spread at the time of diagnosis. But, newer MRI technology can potentially give doctors more information about prognosis. In this trial, doctors use these newer MRI scans.
Urine samples
Researchers are looking at whether using a urine MCM5 ELISA test (ADXGYNAE) can help detect womb cancer in people with postmenopausal bleeding.
People attending a gynaecology clinic for investigation of postmenopausal bleeding are asked to give a urine sample to be tested. The researchers compare the results of the MCM5 test with routine investigations. This will help the researchers to find out whether the test can be used to diagnose womb cancer.
Research into treatment for womb cancer
Most womb cancers are diagnosed early and are cured with surgery. Some are diagnosed later or come back after treatment. Doctors are looking for new ways to improve treatment for womb cancer.
How gut bacteria affects treatment for pelvic cancer (PELICAN-23 study)
This study is looking at gut bacteria (the ). These are natural bacteria that live in your mouth and gut. There are lots of bacteria in our gut. We know that they are important for keeping us healthy. We also know from research into other cancers that bacteria normally living in our bowels change how our body fights cancer cells.
In this study, the researchers want to know if it affects how well treatment works for certain cancers that start in the pelvis. The pelvis is the lower part of the tummy (abdomen) between the hips.
To do this they will look at:
- poo samples
- blood samples
They analyse the poo samples for the types of bacteria in them and how they might interact with your body.
This study aims to find out:
- whether the gut microbiome can predict how well treatment works
- if different types of cancer have different bacteria in the bowel and if these bacteria change how treatment works
Hormone treatment for pre cancerous cells in the womb and womb cancer (MIRENA study)
This study looks at the effects a hormone called progesterone has on womb cancer and a condition affecting the lining of the womb called endometrial hyperplasia. Endometrial hyperplasia is a pre cancerous condition that increases your risk of womb cancer.
Doctors usually treat womb pre cancer and cancer with surgery to remove the womb (hysterectomy). But this can be difficult in elderly women or in women who are very overweight (obese). It also means a woman is no longer able to have children.
So, women who aren’t fit enough for surgery or who may want to have children in future have treatment with a hormone called progesterone. But currently, doctors don’t know who will respond to this treatment and who will not.
The women taking part in this study are having progesterone treatment either before or instead of surgery to treat womb pre cancer or cancer. The researchers will study samples of tissue and blood taken during and after treatment to look for microscopic changes. They want to see if there are changes that can predict who will respond to treatment.
Improving Adjuvant Treatment (RAINBO study)
The RAINBO study is made up of 4 clinical trials. The researchers are looking into new for people with womb cancer. People taking part will be put into 1 of 4 of the trials based on the molecular classification of their cancer in the following way:
- p53 abnormal womb cancer patients to the p53abn-RED trial
- mismatch repair deficient womb cancer patients to the MMRd-GREEN trial
- no specific molecular profile womb cancer patients to NSMP-ORANGE trial
- POLE mutant womb cancer patients to the POLEmut-BLUE trial
The researchers will combine the information and tumour material of the 4 RAINBO clinical trials. They will compare adjuvant treatment based on the molecular classification to standard adjuvant treatment. They will look at its:
- effectiveness
- side effects
- quality of life
- cost
Datopotamab deruxtecan for cancer that has spread (TROPION PanTumour03 study)
This trial is looking at a new drug called datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato Dxd). It is for people with several different cancers, including womb cancer.
People in the trial will have the drug on its own or with other treatments. It is for people whose cancer has spread to nearby tissues or another part of the body.
AZD8205 for cancer that has spread or come back after treatment (Sub-study 1)
This study is looking at a drug called AZD8205. It is for several cancers, including womb cancer. It is for people whose cancer has spread to another part of the body or has come back after treatment.
