A role for immunology and nutrition in pancreatic cancer. 16/WM/0214
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A comparitive study of immunology and nutrition among patients with pancreatic cancer. West Midlands/Black Country-16/WM/0214
IRAS ID
199000
Contact name
Keith Roberts
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
6 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is associated with a 5-year survival of less than 5% and remains one of the greatest challenges in modern oncology. Patients can be divided into distinct groups - those that do (20%) or do not (80%) have tumours that are potentially curable at presentation. Those that do then go on to have potentially curative surgery can be subdivided into those that survive (20%) or develope recurrent disease (80%). Amongst those with recurrent disease they can be subdivided further into those with very early or later recurrent disease.
These groups of patients are important when one considers the appropriateness of treatment. Surgery is associated with significant impact upon quality of life and risks including post operative mortality.
To date research focuses upon distinct groups of patients ie. those that are resectable or not. This makes comparison of biochemical and patient variables difficult when one tries to understand which variables are related to survival or not.
This project is a work package to include a review of tumour immunology, a role for vitamin D and other nutritional variables and a genetic analysis of all patients who present with pancreatic cancer.REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0214
Date of REC Opinion
26 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion