Dr. Keefe's Current Research

Spectroscopy of the Cervical Epithelium

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to develop a non-invasive technique for the detection of cancerous changes in the cervix. Ideally, this technique would allow instantaneous diagnosis without the need to take biopsies.

Procedures
The technique, called spectroscopy, involves shining low-energy laser or white light onto the surface of the cervix. The light is then reflected or emitted back from the surface of the cervix, collected and analyzed by a computer. The pattern of reflected light provides information about the microscopic features of the cervical skin.

The procedure is carried out in the usual manner except that a tiny fiber is positioned onto the cervix for delivering and gathering the light information described above. Data is obtained from two to three normal sites and the suspect lesion sites. Biopsies are obtained only from the sites that appear abnormal under magnified vision. The biopsies are analyzed in the usual way, but some biopsy material might be saved for future analysis.

Risks and Discomforts
The light is of very low energy and there is no possibility that it will injure the surface of the cervix. The risks of the gynecologic procedure is explained by the gynecologist and the patient is asked to sign a separate consent form for the procedure. The patient will not feel the light reaching the cervix.

Phase II trial of HSP-E7 for treatment of CIN II/III

Purpose
The major goal of this study is to assess efficacy and local immunologic responses to a protein-based vaccine. This vaccine is based on the human papilloma virus HSP-E7.

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