New research in Yorkhill Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary is investigating whether a form of the contraceptive coil can stop women from developing womb cancer.
The Cancer Research UK funded clinical trial - named POET - is examining whether an intra uterine system (IUS) or coil, that releases a hormone, can prevent cancer of the lining of the womb - endometrial cancer - in high-risk patients.
This particular type of coil, traditionally used for birth control, is inserted into the womb to release the hormone progestagen. One effect of this hormone is to reduce the thickness of the wall of the womb. It is this feature that scientists believe could be the key to reducing the rate of endometrial cancer in women who are at an inherited risk of the disease.
These women who have an inherited a condition called HNPCC or Lynch syndrome, will be eligible for the trial.
Endometrial cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women in the UK, with most cases being diagnosed after the menopause. While two per cent of British women will develop endometrial cancer, the rate rises to 60 per cent for those women with HNPCC.
Scientists are now recruiting local women from around the Glasgow area aged between 35 and 65, who have HNPCC, to take part in the trial. This is part of a UK-wide trial that aims to recruit 220 women in all and will run for four years.
Each woman on the trial will undergo an examination including an ultrasound scan and biopsy of the womb. If these results are normal then the women will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will receive yearly monitoring, and the other group will receive yearly monitoring and be fitted with a coil called the Mirena IUS.
An annual ultrasound will be carried out in all the women to check for any signs of cancer and a questionnaire will be used to analyse the psychological effects of monitoring and the acceptability of the coil.