Background: Extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) cells have shown promise for their application in non-invasive prenatal diagnosis during the first trimester. The Trophoblast Retrieval and Isolation from the Cervix (TRIC) method allows for the isolation of homogeneous trophoblast cells from pregnant women as early as 5 weeks gestation.
Objective: This study aimed to explore the potential value of extravillous trophoblast cells collected from the cervix, enriched, and purified using the TRIC method for first-trimester prenatal diagnosis.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted, and we collected extravillous trophoblast cells from the cervixes of 100 pregnant women between 5-7 weeks gestation before an induced abortion. Subsequently, these cells underwent STR analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
Results: Out of the 100 cases, trophoblast cells were successfully collected from 96 cases. Among them, STR analysis revealed maternal cell contamination in 13 cases. Gender determination using FISH showed 44 male cases (including one case with 47, XY, +21) and 39 female cases (including one case with 47, XXX). The results of the FISH examination of these 83 cases were in concordance with those of the villi FISH examination.
Conclusions: The collection of fetal trophoblast cells from the cervix represents a feasible and non-invasive approach for first-trimester prenatal diagnosis. The TRIC method enables efficient enrichment and purification of trophoblast cells, which can be of significant benefit for subsequent diagnosis using the FISH method.