Cervical Cancer Samples for Research

Bay Biosciences provides high-quality, matched fresh frozen sera (serum),  plasma, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) bio-fluids from patients diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Moreover, the sera (serum), plasma and PBMC bio-fluids are processed from cervical cancer patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.

In addition, the matched bio-fluids are collected from unique patients with cervical cancer and are provided to a valued pharmaceutical customer for research, development and drug discovery.

The cervix

Cervical cancer starts in the cervix, which is the lower, narrow part of the uterus. The uterus holds the growing fetus during pregnancy. The cervix connects the lower part of the uterus to the vagina and, with the vagina, forms the birth canal.

Abnormal cells in the cervix can become cancerous

Cervical cancer begins when healthy cells on the surface of the cervix change or get infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) and grow out of control, forming a mass called a tumor. Long-term infection of HPV on the cervix can result in cancer, leading to a mass or tumor on the cervix. A tumor can be cancerous or benign. A cancerous tumor is malignant, meaning it can spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor means the tumor will not spread.

At first, the changes in a cell are abnormal, not cancerous, and are sometimes called atypical cells. Researchers believe that some of these abnormal changes are the first step in a series of slow changes that can lead to cancer. Some of the atypical cells go away without treatment, but others can become cancerous.

This phase of precancerous disease is called cervical dysplasia, which is an abnormal growth of cells. Sometimes, the dysplasia tissue needs to be removed to stop cancer from developing. Often, the dysplasia tissue can be removed or destroyed without harming healthy tissue. However, in some cases, a hysterectomy is required to prevent cervical cancer. A hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus and cervix.

Treatment of a lesion, which is a precancerous area, depends on the following factors:

  • Size of the lesion and the type of changes that have occurred in the cells
  • The desire to have children in the future
  • Age
  • General health
  • Preferences of the patient and the doctor

If the precancerous cells change into cancer cells and spread deeper into the cervix or to other tissues and organs, then the disease is called cervical cancer or invasive cervical cancer.

Cervical Cancer Overview

Cervical cancer can grow from the surface of the cervix seen in the vagina, called the ectocervix, or from the canal going from the vagina to the uterus, called the endocervix. There are two main types of cervical cancer named for the type of cell where the cancer started. Other types of cervical cancer are rare.

  • Squamous cell carcinoma makes up about 80% to 90% of all cervical cancers. These cancres start in the cells on the outer surface covering of the cervix.
  • Adenocarcinoma makes up 10% to 20% of all cervical cancres. These cancers start in the glandular cells that line the lower birth canal in the internal portion of the cervix.

The squamous and glandular cells meet at the opening of the cervix at the squamocolumnar junction, which is the location at which most cervical cancers start.

Signs and Symptoms of Cervical Cancer

Precancer often does not cause any signs or symptoms. Symptoms do typically appear with early-stage cervical cancer. With advanced cancer or cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, the symptoms may be more severe depending on the tissues and organs to which the disease has spread. The cause of a symptom may also be a different medical condition that is not cancer, which is why people need to seek medical care if they have a new symptom that does not go away.

Following are the common signs and symptoms of cervical cancer:

  • Blood spots or light bleeding between or following periods
  • Menstrual bleeding that is longer and heavier than usual
  • Bleeding after intercourse, douching, or a pelvic examination
  • Increased vaginal discharge
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Bleeding after menopause
  • Unexplained, persistent pelvic and/or back pain

It is important to report any of the above signs and symptoms to your doctor even if they appear to be symptoms of other, less serious conditions. The earlier doctors find and treat precancerous cells or cancer, the better the chance that they can prevent or cure it. If doctors diagnose cervical cancer, they continue to relieve symptoms as an important part of cancer care and treatment. They may call this palliative care or supportive care. They often start it soon after diagnosis and continue it throughout treatment.

Risk Factors of Cervical Cancer

Following are the risk factors which raise a person’s risk of developing cervical cancer:

  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection: The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common infection, most people become infected with HPV when they become sexually active, and most people clear the virus without problems. There are over 100 different types of human papillomavirus (HPV), not all of them are linked to cancer. The human papillomavirus (HPV) types, or strains, that are most frequently associated with cervical cancer are HPV16 and HPV18. Starting to have sex at an earlier age or having multiple sexual partners puts a person at higher risk of being infected with high-risk HPV types.
  • Immune system deficiency: Patients with lowered immune systems have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer. A lowered immune system can be caused by immune suppression from corticosteroid medications, organ transplantation, treatments for other types of cancer, or from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person has HIV, their immune system is less able to fight off early cancer.
  • Herpes: Women who have genital herpes have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer.

Additional Risk Factors

  • Smoking: Women who smoke are about twice as likely to develop cervical cancer as women who do not smoke.
  • Age: People younger than 20 years old rarely develop cervical cancer. The risk goes up between the late teens and mid-30s. Women past this age group remain at risk and need to have regular cervical cancer screenings, which include a Pap test and/or an HPV test.
  • Socioeconomic factors: Cervical cancer is more common among groups of women who are less likely to have access to screening for cervical cancer. Those populations in the United States are more likely to include Black women, Hispanic women, American Indian women, and women from low-income households.
  • Oral contraceptives: Some research studies suggest that oral contraceptives, which are birth control pills, may be associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer and may be associated with higher-risk sexual behavior. However, more research is needed to understand how oral contraceptive use and the development of cervical cancer are connected.
  • Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES): Women whose mothers took this drug during pregnancy to prevent miscarriage have an increased risk of developing a rare type of cancer of the cervix or vagina. Doctors gave DES for this purpose from about the 1940s to the 1970s. Women exposed to DES should have an annual pelvic examination that includes a cervical Pap test as well as a 4-quadrant Pap test, in which healthcare providers take samples of cells from all sides of the vagina to check for abnormal cells.

Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer

Following tests may be used to diagnose cervical cancer:

Bimanual Pelvic Exam

  • First, Bimanual pelvic examination and sterile speculum examination: In this examination, the doctor will check for any unusual changes in the patient’s cervix, uterus, vagina, ovaries, and other nearby organs. To start, the doctor will look for any changes to the vulva outside the body and then, using an instrument called a speculum to keep the vaginal walls open, the doctor will look inside the vagina to visualize the cervix. 

Pap Test

  • Second, Pap test: During a Pap test, the doctor gently scrapes the outside and inside of the cervix, taking samples of cells for testing. Improved Pap test methods have made it easier for doctors to find cancerous cells. Traditional Pap tests can be hard to read because drying out, covering with mucus or blood, or clumping together on the slide can affect cells.
  • The liquid-based cytology test, often referred to as ThinPrep or SurePath, transfers a thin layer of cells onto a slide after removing blood or mucus from the sample. The team preserves the sample so they can do other tests at the same time, such as the HPV test.
    • Computer screening, often called AutoPap or FocalPoint, uses a computer to scan the sample for abnormal cells.

HPV Test

  • Third, HPV typing test: An HPV test is similar to a Pap test. The researchers perform the test on a sample of cells from the cervix. The doctor may test for HPV at the same time as a Pap test or after Pap test results show abnormal changes to the cervix. Certain types or strains of HPV, called high-risk HPV, such as HPV16 and HPV18, infect women with cervical cancer more often and may help confirm a diagnosis.

Colonoscopy

  • Moreover, Colposcopy: The doctor may do a colposcopy to check the cervix for abnormal areas. Colposcopy can also help guide a biopsy of the cervix. During a colposcopy, a healthcare provider uses a special instrument called a colposcope. The colposcope magnifies the cells of the cervix and vagina, similar to a microscope. It gives the doctor a lighted, magnified view of the tissues of the vagina and the cervix. 

Biopsy

  • Furthermore, Biopsy: A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope. Other tests can suggest that cancer is present, but only a biopsy can make a definite diagnosis. A pathologist then analyzes the sample(s). A pathologist is a doctor who specializes in interpreting laboratory tests and evaluating cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease. If the lesion is small, the doctor may remove all of it during the biopsy.There are several types of biopsies, most are usually done in the doctor’s office, sometimes using a local anesthetic to numb the area. There may be some bleeding and other discharge after a biopsy. There may also be discomfort similar to menstrual cramps. One common biopsy method uses an instrument to pinch off small pieces of cervical tissue. Other types of biopsies include:
    • Endocervical curettage (ECC): If the doctor wants to check an area inside the opening of the cervix that cannot be seen during a colposcopy, they will use ECC. During this procedure, the doctor uses a small, spoon-shaped instrument called a curette to scrape a small amount of tissue from inside the cervical opening.
    • Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP): LEEP uses an electrical current passed through a thin wire hook. The hook removes tissue for examination in the laboratory. 
    • Conization (a cone biopsy): This removes a cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix. After the Diagnosis Cancer Test

If the biopsy shows that cervical cancer is present, the doctor will refer you to a gynecologic oncologist, which is a doctor who specializes in treating this type of cancer. The specialist may suggest additional tests to see if the cancer has spread beyond the cervix.

Pelvic Exam

  • Pelvic examination under anesthesia: In cases where it is necessary for treatment planning, the specialist may re-examine the pelvic area while the patient is under anesthesia to see if the cancer has spread to any organs near the cervix, including the uterus, vagina, bladder, or rectum.

X-Ray

  • X-ray: An x-ray is a way to create a picture of the structures inside of the body using a small amount of radiation. 

CT Scan

  • Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan: A CT scan takes pictures of the inside of the body using x-rays taken from different angles. A computer combines these pictures into a detailed, 3-dimensional image that shows any abnormalities or tumors. 

MRI

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI uses magnetic fields, not x-rays, to produce detailed images of the body. MRI can measure the tumor’s size. A special dye called a contrast medium administers before the scan to create a clearer picture. This dye can inject into a patient’s vein or a patient can take it as a pill or liquid to swallow.

PET Scan

  • Positron emission tomography (PET) or PET-CT scan: A PET scan is usually combined with a CT scan , called a PET-CT scan. A PET scan is a way to create pictures of organs and tissues inside the body. A small amount of a radioactive sugar substance injects into the patient’s body. Cells that use the most energy take up this sugar substance. Because cancer tends to use energy actively, it absorbs more of the radioactive substance. A scanner then detects this substance to produce images of the inside of the body.

Molecular Tests

  • Molecular testing of the tumor: Your doctor may recommend running laboratory tests on a tumor to identify specific genes, proteins, and other factors unique to the tumor. Results of these tests can help determine patients treatment options.

Additional Procedures

If signs or symptoms of bladder or rectal problems exist, doctors may recommend these procedures and may perform them at the same time as a pelvic examination:

  • Cystoscopy: A cystoscopy is a procedure that allows the doctor to view the inside of the bladder and urethra which is the canal that carries urine from the bladder, with a thin, lighted tube called a cystoscope. The doctor may sedate the patient as they insert the tube in the urethra. A doctor uses a cystoscopy to determine whether cancer has spread to the bladder.
  • Sigmoidoscopy (also called a proctoscopy): A sigmoidoscopy is a procedure that allows the doctor to see the colon and rectum with a thin, lighted, flexible tube called a sigmoidoscope. The medical staff may sedate the person as they insert the tube in the rectum. Doctors use a sigmoidoscopy to see if the cancer has spread to the rectum.

Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences is, indeed a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.

Specifically, aamples available include cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Moreover, Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors available in all formats and types.

In fact, our biobank procures and stores fully consented, de-identified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples and matched controls.

Additionally, all our human tissue collections, human specimens and human bio-fluids are provided with detailed, samples associated patient’s clinical data.

In particular, critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.

Moreover, researchers find patient’s data extremely valuable and use it to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, and other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Specifically, Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and biological samples, including cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.

For example fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as serum, plasma and PBMC.

Furthermore, Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.

Therefore, please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.

Types of Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:

  • Firstly, Peripheral whole-blood
  • Secondly, Amniotic fluid
  • Third, Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL)
  • Moreover, Sputum
  • Furthermore, Pleural effusion
  • Next, Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
  • Also, Serum (sera)
  • Likewise, Plasma
  • In addition, Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
  • For example, Saliva
  • Also, Buffy coat
  • Moreover, Urine
  • Furthermore, stool samples
  • Next, Aqueous humor
  • Likewise, Vitreous humor
  • Lastly, Kidney stones (renal calculi)
  • Finally, Other bodily fluids from most diseases including cancer.

Moreover, we can also procure most human bio-specimens, furthermore; we offer special collections and requests for human samples that are difficult to find. All our human tissue samples are procured through IRB-approved clinical protocols and procedures.

In addition to the standard processing protocols, Bay Biosciences can also provide human plasma, serum, and PBMC bio-fluid samples using custom processing protocols. Additionally you buy donor-specific collections in higher volumes and specified sample aliquots from us.

Furthermore, Bay Biosciences also provides human samples from normal healthy donors; volunteers, for controls and clinical research, contact us Now.

 

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