A test to help prevent uterine cancer

November 2, 2026

CCS-funded researchers are working on a hormone test to spot people at higher risk of endometrial cancer before symptoms appear, enabling earlier prevention and improving outcomes.

3 min. read

Uterine cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system in Canada. More than 8,000 people in the country are expected to be diagnosed each year – and most cases will begin in the lining of the uterus, known as the endometrium.

Like many cancers, endometrial cancer is often easier to prevent or treat when people at increased risk are identified early. Knowing when someone has a high risk of cancer opens the door to proven lifestyle and hormone-based interventions that may stop cancer from developing.

CCS-funded researchers Dr Aline Talhouk, Dr Andrea Neilson and Dr Jessica McAlpine are investigating whether a hormone test could help find people at risk of endometrial cancer before symptoms appear. The test, known as the progesterone challenge test (PCT), has been used in gynecology for decades to assess how the endometrium responds to hormones. Participants take a 10-day course of hormones and are checked for bleeding. In postmenopausal people, bleeding after the test may signal changes in the uterus that are linked to an increased risk of cancer.

CCS-funded researcher Dr Aline Talhouk

Of the 51 participants who completed the test, 16 had a positive result, suggesting that they might have a higher-than-average risk of developing cancer in the future. Those participants were referred for more testing. In several people, this testing found abnormal conditions in the uterus that are associated with a higher risk of cancer. Now, those people can be monitored more closely – meaning that any cancers they may develop can be spotted and treated early.

One of the most encouraging discoveries was the number of people interested in this testing. The research team initially expected that about half of participants would complete the test, but in fact 51 of the 68 people who enrolled in the study completed the test. These results suggest that this testing is not only possible but also appeals to both patients and healthcare providers – an important step in evaluating its potential use to guide cancer prevention.

CCS-funded researcher Dr Andrea Neilson

The research could be especially valuable for people who face barriers within the healthcare system. Obesity, one of the strongest risk factors for endometrial cancer, is closely linked to social and economic inequities that can make it difficult to access medical care. Even when they do, people living with obesity often experience bias in healthcare settings, which can discourage them from seeking care and delay diagnosis. By spotting people at higher risk of cancer before symptoms develop, this approach could ensure that those people receive the preventive care and early treatment they need – changing and even saving lives.

Now, with support from a new CCS Challenge Grant, Dr Talhouk, Dr Neilson and Dr Laurence Bernard are using the test to find people who may benefit from 12 months of hormone treatment to help prevent uterine cancer. This new project could help the researchers bring uterine cancer prevention to those most likely to benefit from it.

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