Projects

Project Description

Background: Carcinoma of Uterine cervix is the second most common cancers affecting Indian women. Most of the patients presenting in locally advanced stages and concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the treatment of choice. The circulating nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) are sensitive biomarkers which can be analysed in the patient’s serum. There have been many biomarkers which have been identified and said to correlate with the stage of the disease. However, there are no studies which have systematically correlated the levels of biomarkers in the serum during and after the radiotherapy treatment. 

Aims and Objectives; The aim of the study is to identify whether there is any correlation with the blood biomarkers with respect to response to therapy. The objectives of the present study are: firstly, To Analyse the pattern of blood biomarkers before, during and after definitive radiotherapy in patients who are diagnosed with Squamous cell carcinoma of Uterine Cervix; secondly, To correlate the levels of biomarkers with the outcome of the patients being treated with definitive radiotherapy.

Conclusion: The levels of RNA based biomarkers reduces as the disease regresses during the course of radiotherapy treatment. There is a need to identify more biomarkers which can precisely correlate the response to therapy. Larger patient population is required to validate the panel of biomarkers.