Primary Contact: Heather Noga, Research Coordinator, 604-875-2424 ext 4924, Heather.Noga@cw.bc.ca
About the study: The aim of this study is to determine whether there are unique genetic changes in endometriosis that may play a role in malignant transformation to ovarian cancer or in the symptoms of pelvic pain and infertility. This will be done by comparing surgical tissue samples from women with endometriosis to women without endometriosis.
Participants in this study agree to provide for research purposes: a saliva sample, tissue removed from their surgery, endometrial biopsy (a sample from the lining of the uterus – only if a sample is not already being removed for clinical purposes).
Why is this research important? Endometriosis affects 10% of reproductive aged women, causes pain and infertility, and is now known to also be associated with ovarian cancer. Studying gene mutations and expression changes in surgical tissue samples of women with or without endometriosis will help us understand how it can lead to pain, infertility, ovarian cancer, and other associated symptoms.
Study status: Recruitment and data collection is ongoing.
Who can participate: You have (or are suspected to have) endometriosis OR another benign gynaecological condition, You have chosen surgical treatment.
Co-Investigators: Dr. Catherine Allaire, Dr. Christina Williams, Dr. Mohamed Bedaiwy, Dr. Jessica McAlpine, Dr. David Huntsman.
Funded by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute (CCSRI), Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI)
Partners: Ovarian Cancer Research Group (OvCaRe), Centre for Translational and Applied Genomics (CTAG).
Clinic website: http://www.womenspelvicpainendo.com/
Clinic Research Page: http://www.womenspelvicpainendo.com/research/