Screening

Sensitivity of transvaginal ultrasound screening for endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women: a case-control study within the UKCTOCS cohort Jacobs, I. et al. Lancet Oncol. 12, 38–48 (2011)

Transvaginal ultrasound has been suggested as a possible screening method for endometrial cancer, owing to its value in assessing symptomatic patients with a predisposition to the disease. In the first large-scale study assessing the value of transvaginal ultrasound, 48,230 women were screened in the UK. Within this cohort, a nested case-control study was carried out in postmenopausal women, which revealed that transvaginal ultrasound screening for endometrial cancer has good sensitivity in this subgroup. Moreover, limiting screening to such higher-risk individuals can help to reduce the likelihood of false-positive results, the researchers conclude.

Screening

Automation-assisted versus manual reading of cervical cytology (MAVARIC): a randomised controlled trial Kitchener, H. C. et al. Lancet Oncol. 12, 56–64 (2011)

Unlike manual reading of cytology slides, which requires the cytoscreener to search the whole slide for abnormal cells, automated reading can selectively target abnormal cells on a slide. The MAVARIC trial compared the accuracy of manual versus automated reading for the detection of cervical cancer. 73,266 liquid-based cytology samples, collected from women aged 25–64 years undergoing primary cervical screening in the UK, were assessed by either manual or paired (manual and automatic) reading, in a 1:2 fashion. The sensitivity of automation-assisted reading was 8% lower than manual reading. The authors recommend that automation-assisted reading should not replace manual reading for primary cervical screening.

Experimental therapies

Pilot trial of a patient-specific cutaneous electrostimulation device (MC5-A Calmare®) for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Smith, T. J. et al. J. Pain. Symptom Manage. 40, 883–891 (2010)

Around 30–40% of patients receiving anticancer drugs experience chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Direct nerve stimulation has been suggested as a technique to reduce this pain. Smith and colleagues tested a patient-specific cutaneous electrostimulation device in 16 patients. Following 10 days of treatment (1 h per day), pain was reduced by at least 20% in 15 patients and four patients experienced a complete disappearance of pain. No adverse effects were observed. Further studies are now being carried out.