Characterization of the vaginal microbiota of women with cervical cancer precursor lesions and association between the maintenance of vaginal eubiosis and HPV clearance

• Grant number: 24/12314-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 29, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Lucas Tadeu Bidinotto
• Grantee: Karen Cristina Borba Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde de Barretos Dr Paulo Prata (FACISB). Barretos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cervical cancer is mainly caused by persistent high-risk HPV infection. However, the mechanisms associated with the clearance or persistence of HPV infection remain poorly understood and appear to be multifactorial, with possible protective factors of the lactobacillary microbiota being associated. Therefore, the present study aims to characterize the vaginal microbiota of women with high-grade cervical lesion and associate the maintenance of vaginal eubiosis with the evolution, remission or maintenance of these lesions and/or HPV clearance. A total of 120 women diagnosed with high-grade precursor lesions will be followed every six months during 18 months, and colposcopy, cytology, HPV genotyping, biopsy (when necessary) and vaginal swab (molecular analysis of the microbiota) will be performed. Among them, 60 women will be monitored during this period with a eubiosis maintenance protocol, with material being collected for Gram test (determination of eubiosis, dysbiosis and infection of the lower genital tract), cytobrush of the endocervix (Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium) and cytokines analysis. Any changes found will be conducted in accordance with the standard protocol of Hospital de Amor/Barretos. The other group (60 women) will be followed according to the standard protocol at Hospital de Amor/Barretos. Data from these women will be compared throughout follow-up, with HPV clearance as the endpoint. It is expected to identify microbiota patterns that are associated with HPV clearance, as well as the maintenance of eubiosis.