Biomarker discovery in melanoma: case-control study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Immunosignature biomarker discovery in melanoma- nested case control study using serum samples from the UKCTOCS Biobank
IRAS ID
188233
Contact name
Usha Menon
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Despite our improved understanding of cancer biology the number of people being diagnosed with cancer continues to increase. Healthcare systems are facing an unprecedented challenge to meet the medical needs of the population while controlling costs. The early detection and treatment of cancer is likely to be a key aspect of economically efficient, high-quality healthcare. Survival figures from Cancer Research UK show that the single greatest impact on cancer survival is the stage at which the cancer is detected. An ideal diagnostic would be a blood-based biomarker which may have greater acceptability, lower costs and improved compliance in screening. The aim of this project is to undertake discovery experiments for novel immunosignature biomarkers for the early diagnosis of melanoma using the pre-diagnosis serum from the UKCTOCS biobank in collaboration with the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, USA. The samples used from the melanoma cancer cases will be close to diagnosis and then at intervals up to 10 years prior to diagnosis which will give the project the best chance to identify those markers which are upregulated early in the course of the disease.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0590
Date of REC Opinion
22 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion