Treating High-grade Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia with a Skin Cancer Drug in Nigeria

​Principal Investigator: Dr. Kehinde Okunade

Disease: Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Research Description: ​High-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is a precursor to cervical cancer and represents a significant global health burden. It is most commonly caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), which affects almost one quarter of healthy women in Africa – more than double the worldwide average. The standard of care for high-grade CIN is to remove the lesions via invasive procedures such as the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), but this procedure can be costly and result in complications. Topical medications used to treat non-melanoma skin cancers have shown promise in treating CIN lesions. This open-label, randomized, controlled trial is treating women with high-grade CIN lesions with either topical 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod or LEEP to determine the treatment response and recurrence. If this trial is successful, it could provide a non-invasive alternative to traditional excisional procedures, particularly in resource-limited settings where access to specialized surgical care is limited.

Funding Partners: Open Philanthropy

CWR Funding Role: Primary