Clinical Outcome and Biomarkers for Predicting Immunological Response in Patients Treated with Imiquimod

INTRODUCTION: High-grade intraepithelial lesions (CIN 2/3) are considered precursor lesions of cervical cancer, and its treatment involves destructive or excisional methods. Some studies have proven the efficacy of the immunomodulator imiquimod as a topical treatment for CIN 2/3 lesions. Imiquimod activates the innate immune response through dendritic cells, monocytes and macrophages, in addition to modulating the response pattern of T lymphocytes. Thus, the characterization of the immune response in the treatment with imiquimod in lesions caused by oncogenic HPV, may benefit women in a way that it is possible to measure the response of each patient, improving the understanding of its mechanism of action, directly impacting the efficacy and adverse events. caused by the drug. OBJECTIVES: To identify the immunophenotypic profile of the local immune response, the cervicovaginal microenvironment and the microbiological profile of women with CIN 3 treated with imiquimod. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It will be included 90 patients, 60 with high-risk HPV, diagnosed with CIN 3 and 30 patients with negative cytology and HPV. Patients will be divided into 3 groups: 1) patients with CIN 3 who will use 16 doses of imiquimod in the uterine cervix, applied twice a week; 2) patients with CIN 3 who will undergo standard treatment with Transformation Zone Excision (EZT); 3) patients with negative cytology and HPV. Blood and cervicovaginal lavage will be collected for immunophenotypic analysis (flow cytometry), quantification of immunological mediators (Cytometric Bead Array) and evaluation of the microbiome (MiniION). The results obtained will be correlated with the clinical and pathological data of the patients.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients between 25 and 45 years of age (reproductive age);
• High-risk HPV carriers;
• Residents less than 300 km from the city of Barretos-São Paulo;
• With a histological diagnosis of high-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (CIN 3), obtained through colposcopy-guided biopsy performed at the Barretos Cancer Hospital (HCB);
• Acceptance of the Informed Consent Form.

Exclusion criteria

• Suspicion of invasive squamous cell carcinoma or Adenocarcinoma (in situ or invasive) by colposcopy and/or cytology;
• Pregnant or breastfeeding;
• Immunodeficiency condition;
• Previous treatment for high-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion;
• Who have been immunized for HPV;
• Have used antibiotics in the last 30 days