The most common type of vulval cancer is vulval squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC), which develops from two different mechanisms: HPV infection or non-HPV infection (and often associated with inflammatory skin conditions like lichen sclerosus). Vulval cancer from these legions have different prognosis from each other, but there is poor scientific understanding of how both of these pre-malignant regions can develop into vulval cancer.
A team of researchers from Imperial College London, led by Dr Jackie McDermott, will study gene activity in samples of both HPV related and non-HPV related vulval cancer by using a new technology called spatial transcriptomics. This technology allows high-throughput analysis of mRNAs (transcriptome) within an intact section of tissue to visualise and quantify gene expression. Using this data, this group of researchers aim to create a spatial picture of the genetic changes that occur between normal vulval skin, inflamed vulval skin, precancerous legions and cancerous tissues. This information could help researchers find early detection signs of vulval cancer so that the development of vulval cancer could be prevented.
The researchers are working closely with the Visible Vulvas public engagement project and women affected by the disease, including Mandy. She says:
“I have lived with vulval disease for ten years after a diagnosis of vulval cancer in 2012. My experience of this disease has been a devastating one for my physical and mental health. After many, many surgeries l had to give up a job that l loved, l experienced chronic pain, lymphoedema and have a supra pubic catheter and an ileostomy because of extensive nerve damage. There is very little understanding or support with different specialists saying different things.
“Hopefully research will enable quicker diagnosis and referral to specialists leading to better outcomes and less mutilating surgeries. My hope for research into vulval disease is that no one will have to experience what l have over the last ten years.”
A huge thank you to everyone who donated towards the Vulval Cancer Research Fund, without you this project wouldn’t be possible. We are looking forward to keeping you up to date with its progress. The Vulval Cancer Research Fund remains open, if you would like to donate to help us fund more projects into the prevention and earlier diagnosis of vulval cancer, click here.