ACTION CRC
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Phagocyte Activation as a Clinically Useful Biomarker in Colorectal Cancer
IRAS ID
284942
Contact name
Clare Hammer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Development Department
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
The purpose of this research is to identify a new biomarker for improving diagnosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC is the third most common cancer in the UK and the number of patients diagnosed each year is increasing. Diagnosing and treating CRC especially in the early stages can be challenging as people can often have no symptoms. Early diagnosis has the potential to identify cancer at a less advanced stage, and this can improve the opportunity for curative treatment. \n\nMeasurable indicators of disease are called ‘Biomarkers’. There has been an exciting and growing focus in CRC research to find novel biomarkers from a simple blood test. A new area of interest for biomarkers is in the Mononuclear Phagocytic System (MPS). The MPS is a class of cells that occur widely in the human body and are an important regulators of cancer development and progression. In preliminary studies, we have identified specific types of MPS cells that are present in patients with CRC but not in healthy individuals. We plan to further evaluate these findings in this non-interventional prospective cohort study to see if this biomarker can be used as a blood test diagnosis for early CRC.\n\nOver the course of 12-18 months we will recruit patients at Royal Surrey County Hospital with known CRC (study group) and compare MPS cells from a blood test of these patients with patients who do not have CRC. A blood sample will be taken at the time of routine blood tests as part of their treatment. We will take samples of tumour tissue from the specimen (surplus to diagnostic requirements) after it has been completely removed. This tissue will be assessed for MPS cells to see how well blood represents the tumour tissue. A full study protocol in available on request.\n
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
21/NS/0051
Date of REC Opinion
8 Apr 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion