Detection of endometrial cancer using tampon-based collection and methylated DNA markers

In plain language

This study tested vaginal fluid, not menstrual blood: women aged 45 and over being evaluated for abnormal or postmenopausal bleeding, and women with biopsy-proven endometrial cancer, placed a tampon in clinic or before surgery. A panel of 28 methylated DNA markers, discovered in tissue, distinguished 100 endometrial cancers from 92 benign controls with 76% sensitivity at 96% specificity (AUC 0.88), rising to 82% sensitivity (AUC 0.91) with an improved tampon buffer.

Key numbers

100 vs 92

Endometrial cancers versus benign controls

76% / 96%

Sensitivity / specificity of the 28-marker panel (AUC 0.88)

82%

Sensitivity with the improved tampon buffer (AUC 0.91)

What it means

DNA shed from an endometrial cancer can be picked up in fluid collected by a simple tampon, which could one day help decide who with abnormal bleeding needs a biopsy. It shows that self-collected samples from the lower genital tract can carry signals from the uterus.