The Progesterone Challenge Test as a Functional Biomarker of Endometrial Cancer Risk: Results from a Prospective...

Endometrial cancer incidence continues to increase globally, driven mainly by obesity. Current diagnostic pathways rely on symptom presentation; no validated approach exists to identify asymptomatic individuals who may benefit from targeted prevention. The progesterone challenge test (PCT) is a physiologic assessment of endometrial hormonal responsiveness that could pragmatically guide endometrial cancer prevention interventions. The RESToRE study (NCT05651282) prospectively assessed the feasibility of the PCT as a community-based risk-stratification tool for endometrial cancer prevention in British Columbia, Canada, between 2023 and 2024. Asymptomatic postmenopausal participants, defined by the absence of vaginal bleeding, with body mass index ≥34.9 kg/m2 and an intact uterus, completed a 10-day course of oral medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) 10 mg daily. Feasibility, tolerability, and acceptability were evaluated. Of 96 eligible individuals, 68 enrolled, 53 initiated, and 51 completed the PCT. Sixteen participants experienced withdrawal bleeding (+PCT; 30.2% of those with evaluable results). All +PCT individuals were referred to a gynecologist for standard-of-care evaluation, including an endometrial biopsy. Among the 15 who underwent biopsy, two had a proliferative endometrium, and one had simple hyperplasia. Participants and providers found the test acceptable, citing its simplicity and low administrative burden. Side effects of the PCT were mild (median severity ≤three of 10), resulting in 3.8% (two of 53) of participants discontinuing the MPA. The PCT was feasible, well-tolerated, and acceptable among higher-risk postmenopausal individuals, supporting its use as a physiologic, functional biomarker of endometrial responsiveness. These findings provide early evidence for a scalable, low-cost strategy to identify individuals likely to benefit from targeted endometrial cancer prevention.

This study demonstrates that the PCT is feasible and acceptable as a functional biomarker associated with the risk of endometrial cancer in asymptomatic postmenopausal individuals with obesity. As a low-cost, scalable, community-deliverable approach, our findings support validation of this test in the context of endometrial cancer precision prevention.