Centre for Cancer Research

Ectopic pregnancy

Project leader: Dr Stephen Tong

Ectopic pregnancies are conceptions implanting in the fallopian tube instead of the womb. They are a serious gynaecological emergency since they can erode into blood vessels causing fatal bleeding and death. Currently, most are treated surgically where often, both the  fallopian tube and the ectopic pregnancy are removed together. In the developing world where access to expensive surgery is limited there is a catastrophic toll of mothers lost to ruptured ectopic pregnancies.

We are developing medication-based approaches to treat this condition that avoids surgery entirely for ectopic pregnancies that have not yet ruptured the tube. One approach that shows great promise involves blocking a signalling pathway vital to keeping ectopic tissue healthy. The medication we are testing is safe and well tolerated. It comes in tablet form, opening the exciting possibility that surgery could be replaced with a tablet.

If we succeed and translate this to the clinic, it could radically change clinical management of this disease. Importantly, a tablet based treatment could be used to treat ectopic pregnancies in the developing world where access to surgery is poor. This could save vast numbers of lives.

** Dr Stephen Tong is a clinical scientist and consulting obstetrician, who undertakes the majority of his research in the Centre for Women's Health Research, where he leads a research project investigating new tools to investigate and predict pregnancy complications.