At FCecon, molecular biology research helps prevent cervical cancer

The expectation is that the information collected will help the medical team make a decision about clinical behavior.

Molecular biology research in the prevention of cervical cancer has teamed up in Amazonas, through a pilot project developed at the State Cancer Surveillance Center Foundation (FCecon), a unit associated with the Department of Health (SES-AM). The expectation is that the information collected will help the medical team make a decision about clinical behavior.

The project was designed by the Head of the Department of Gynecology at FCecon, gynecologist Mônica Bandeira, with the aim of offering the HPV (human papillomavirus) test to patients of the Cecon Foundation for follow-up after conization of the cervix, which is the removal of infections that come before cancer. This test is safer and more sensitive.

Currently, FCecon’s post-anesthesia follow-up protocol, according to SUS guidelines, is through a (preventive) Pap smear.

According to the Foundation’s Director of Education and Research (DEP), Katia Luz Torres, the project aims to improve and improve the quality and safety of medical management in follow-up after cone surgery.

After a meeting with the FCecon Board of Directors, the Board of Education and Research and the Gynecological Service, it was agreed that post-anesthesia molecular biology analyzes would be routine at the institution.

“We have established a flow with the gynecological service and we will be able to perform genotyping for the two most prevalent genotypes of HPV, 16 and 18. This information will be available to the medical team to decide on clinical behavior. It is an experimental phase, but it is important,” Katia Torres said. .

biology

Molecular biology studies the interactions between the different systems of the cell, starting with the relationship between DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis, and the way these interactions are regulated.

This type of study is one of the actions the Amazonas government has taken to prevent cervical cancer. In April of this year, construction began on the Advanced Center for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer in Amazonas (Cepcolu), attached to FCecon.

According to Monica Bandera, the procedures seek to resolve high-grade precursor lesions of the cervix, caused by HPV. “Very soon, Cepcolu will be built and ready to treat primary lesions of cervical cancer, as well as follow up post-conization with molecular biology. It is the real revolution in the fight against cervical cancer in Amazonas.”

Amazonas is the leader in the Brazilian ranking in terms of the number of cervical cancer cases and deaths. Each year, the Inca National Cancer Institute estimates 700 new cases of the disease in the state.

recommendation

The project takes advantage of the prevention scenario of this type of malignancy, as it collects more important information. In the national and international literature, follow-up after anesthesia is recommended, not only with cytological tests, such as Pap smears, but with molecular tests.

“It is a leap in quality and safety in clinical management. A clear example of how research can advance changes and improvements in care. It is a concrete example of the success of this partnership and this is what the research at Cecon is proposing to do,” highlighted Katia Torres.

infrastructure

The project was a long-standing goal at the institution, but it is being carried out thanks to the infrastructure of the FCecon Molecular Biology Laboratory with equipment, researchers and colleagues. This sector receives funding from the Research Support Foundation of the State of Amazonas (Fapeam), through the Pro-State Program, which funds the Genomic Health Monitoring Network (Regesam), coordinated by FCecon.

In addition to research to prevent cervical cancer, another important, cross-sectional study is being conducted at FCecon to investigate genetic alterations of colorectal tumors. The goal is to provide a more personalized treatment for each molecular profile of these tumors.