bnP for pRediction of Outcome FollowIng Lung rEsection Surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
PROFILES: bnP for prediction of Outcome Following Lung resection Surgery
IRAS ID
251030
Contact name
Ben Shelley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
National Waiting Times Centre Board
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer in the UK and is the leading cause of cancer related death. Where appropriate, surgery to remove the tumour and the surrounding lung(lung resection) provides the best chance of cure. Frequently patients are either current or ex- smokers with related lung or heart problems which increase the risks associated with surgery.
Following surgery patients may suffer long term shortness of breath, greatly limiting their day-to-day function and lowering quality of life. Public engagement work that we have carried out demonstrates that second only to “being alive and cancer free” exercise capacity was the main priority of post-operative patients.
We believe this post-operative shortness of breath is not solely caused by the removal of part of the lung but also from a decrease in the performance of the heart. Although the surgery does not directly involve the heart, it is thought that the damage is caused indirectly by the surgery and by removal of part of the lung. Our group is also working on better understanding the mechanisms of this heart injury. If it was possible to identify patients at increased risk of breathlessness following surgery, we believe there would be a window of opportunity in which we could intervene.
Current methods for predicting breathlessness and quality of life after lung resection for cancer are inaccurate. Some patients are refused surgery on the basis of these who may otherwise have gone on to have successful surgery. At present there is no specific treatment for patients considered to be at increased risk of breathlessness.
This study asks can BNP (B type-natriuretic peptide, a simple blood marker of heart strain) be used alongside current risk prediction to more accurately identify those at risk of breathlessness and poor quality of life after lung resection for lung cancer?REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1563
Date of REC Opinion
13 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion