Analysis of colorectal and endometrial (pre)cancers

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Molecular and biomarker analysis of samples from patients with colorectal and endometrial cancers and pre-cancers

• IRAS ID

  229042

• Contact name

  David Church

• Contact email

  dchurch@well.ox.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Oxford / Clinical Trials and Research Governance

• Duration of Study in the UK

  5 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Colorectal and endometrial cancers are two of the most common cancers in Europe, collectively accounting for nearly 600,000 cases each year. While survival for both has improved as a result of earlier diagnosis and advances in surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, many patients still die from their disease. Furthermore, the inability to identify which patients with colorectal or endometrial cancers will benefit from chemotherapy or radiotherapy means that most patients who receive these toxic therapies do not benefit from them. This results in short and long-term harm to patients, and substantial economic cost to healthcare providers and society.

  The ability to undertake detailed molecular profiling of cancers has identified molecular alterations that that provide information about prognosis or likelihood of benefit or harm from treatment beyond standard clinical and pathological factors routinely used in the clinic. These alterations - known as biomarkers - hold much promise to refine risk stratification for patients.

  By studying samples from large cohorts of colorectal and endometrial cancer patients, our group has identified several cancer biomarkers, leading to publications, new clinical trials and change in clinical practice (Church et al, 2013, 2015; Domingo et al 2016). In the course of this work, we have developed interests in the interaction between cancers and the immune system, and in the significance of such biomarkers in colorectal and endometrial pre-cancers

  We wish to build on this work by:

  (i) validating our previous findings and identifying novel DNA, RNA and protein-based biomarkers in colorectal and endometrial cancer patients
  (ii) performing similar analyses in non-malignant colorectal and endometrial pre-cancers
  (iii) examining how the interaction between tumours and the host immune system influences prognosis and response to therapy

  We propose to do this by:
  (i) large scale biomarker analyses
  (ii) detailed molecular profiling of smaller prospective cohorts

• REC name

  South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  18/SC/0533

• Date of REC Opinion

  25 Sep 2018

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion