Misoprostol to improve visibility during cervical screening
Misoprostol to Optimize Prevention of Cancer of the Cervix: A Randomized Trial (MISOPCx Project)
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · NIH-11401870
This project uses a single, low-cost vaginal dose of misoprostol to help health workers see the full cervix during cervical cancer screening for women in low- and middle-income countries.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11401870 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, you would be randomly assigned to receive a single vaginal dose of misoprostol before your visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) screening or receive the usual screening approach. The team will check whether the medication helps the transformation zone of your cervix become fully visible (converting Type 3 to a visible zone) and will record any side effects. They will also examine whether the timing of the dose and factors like age, menopause, parity, or prior precancer treatment change how well it works. The trial is being conducted at participating screening clinics in sub-Saharan Africa, including sites such as Cameroon, in partnership with investigators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adult women attending participating cervical screening clinics in LMIC settings whose cervix is not fully visible on VIA.
Not a fit: Women with an already fully visible transformation zone, those who are pregnant, allergic to prostaglandins, or otherwise ineligible for misoprostol are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make cervical screening more accurate by reducing missed precancerous lesions and enabling earlier treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Small previous trials have suggested misoprostol may improve cervical visualization, but evidence is limited and a larger randomized trial is needed.
Where this research is happening
BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM — BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HUH, WARNER KING — UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- Study coordinator: HUH, WARNER KING
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.
Conditions: Cancer Cause, Cancer Etiology, Cancerous, Cancers, Cervical Cancer