Comparing two treatments to remove precancerous cervical tissue for women with HIV in Mozambique
A Randomized Clinical Trial to Assess the Effectiveness of Ablative Treatments for Cervical Cancer Risk Reduction in HIV+ Women living in Mozambique
This project compares two ways of destroying precancerous cervical tissue to help lower cervical cancer risk for women living with HIV in Maputo, Mozambique.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11392095 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited during your regular HIV clinic visit to be screened for high-risk HPV and precancerous cervical changes. If eligible, you would be randomly assigned to receive one of two ablative treatments—gas-based cryotherapy or thermocoagulation—applied to the cervix. The team will follow you over time to see how well the treatment works at clearing high-risk HPV and preventing progression to more serious disease. The trial enrolls women living with HIV aged 25–49 and is run in collaboration with local HIV care programs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are women living with HIV, ages 25–49, receiving HIV care in Maputo who have cervical precancer (CIN2/3) or high-risk HPV on screening.
Not a fit: Women who are HIV-negative, outside the 25–49 age range, already diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer, pregnant, or otherwise not eligible for ablative treatment are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify a more effective or practical treatment to reduce cervical cancer risk for women with HIV in low-resource settings.
How similar studies have performed: Both cryotherapy and thermocoagulation have been used to treat cervical precancer, but their comparative effectiveness specifically in women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa remains uncertain.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schmeler, Kathleen — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Schmeler, Kathleen
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.