DOvEEgene Fleur: New Uterine Sampling Tool

September 23, 2025 updated by: Dr. Lucy Gilbert, McGill University

This study is related to a previous study from the same group which started in 2014 (NTC02288676, McGill REB A08-M79-13B, MUHC REB 2020-5945) to develop a clinically implementable screening test -DovEEgene: developing and validating a novel molecular test for the early diagnosis of cancer of the endometrium, tubes and ovaries. This study is designed to identify endometrial, tubal and ovarian cancer very early based on identifying cancer-specific mutations (cancer DNA) in a pap sample taken from inside the uterus. The results are particularly encouraging given that control group is challenging with high background mutational burden from benign tumours, endometriosis, germ-line mutations etc.

To date, all the intrauterine samples were obtained using the commercially available TAO brush™ which is designed to take an endometrial sample. However, when patient tolerability was assessed using a numerical pain scale (NPS) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (severe pain), patients rated the sampling using the TAO brush™ at 3.5 versus 0 for a cervical pap sample. These results were not surprising as the TAO brush™ was designed for dislodging strips of endometrial tissue to use for histopathologic examination. With respect to the investigators objective, which is to collect cancer cells that have exfoliated to the uterus, a sampler that collects these exfoliated cells with as little disturbance as possible to the underlying endometrium is preferred. In this sub-study, the investigators aim to evaluate a new endometrial sampling tool, the DOvEEgene Fleur, which is believe to be superior to the current TAO brush™ in terms of cancer detection, ease of use and patient tolerability. The sampler has been designed using materials/components found in the TAO brush™ and other approved medical devices.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Quebec
      • Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H4A 3J1
        • Recruiting
        • Royal Victoria Hospital (Glen Site)
        • Contact:
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The participating hospital runs multiple weekly routine gynecologic oncology clinics. The cases include women scheduled to undergo surgery for tumor removal, for either proven or suspected upper genital tract cancer.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Have capacity to understand the study.
  • Be able to provide informed consent.
  • If the patient has a recently treated cervical abnormality, she must have had a Pap smear with normal results at least 4 months following treatment by loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) or cone biopsy.
  • Have suspected or confirmed cancer of the upper genital tract and be undergoing surgery for said tumor removal.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior hysterectomy.
  • Be pregnant or possibly pregnant.
  • Be nursing, as the device contains phthalates (plasticizers) that "have not been fully characterized and there may be concern for reproductive and developmental effects".
  • Have an infected or inflamed cervix.
  • Have a confirmed or suspected pelvic infection.
  • Have a confirmed or suspected vaginal infection.
  • Have had recent history of uterine perforation.
  • Patients with recently treated cervical abnormalities must have a Pap smear with normal results at least 4 months following treatment by loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) or cone biopsy in order to be eligible.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Case-Only
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Case
Participants must have suspected or confirmed upper genital tract cancer (uterine, tubal and ovarian) and must be scheduled to undergo surgery for tumor removal.
Device: DOvEEgene Fleur Sampling
Patients will undergo uterine sampling with DOvEEgene Fleur endometrial sampling device prior to surgical intervention, in addition to standard of care treatment.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Patient related outcomes including pain and acceptability
Time Frame: up to 1 year
Evaluate pain tolerability and acceptability during and after endometrial sample collection. This will be assessed using pain scores reported by participants on numeric pain scale (NPS) ranging from 0 to 10. Final pain scores with the DOvEEgene Fleur will be compared to historical pain scores collected with the TAO brush (Cook Medical).
up to 1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Feasibility of performing sample collection by clinicians
Time Frame: up to 1 year
Ease of use of the DOvEEgene Fleur will be evaluated through a physician feedback form.
up to 1 year
Quality/quantity of sample collection
Time Frame: up to 1 year
Molecular assessment to verify DOvEEgene Fleur is capable of detecting cancer cells from the uterus.
up to 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

McGill University

Collaborators

McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
GSE Biomedical

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

December 11, 2020

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 4, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 5, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

February 6, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

September 26, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 23, 2025

Last Verified

September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2020-6016

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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