Cellular and molecular research in breast tumours
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cellular and molecular research in breast tumours
IRAS ID
373913
Contact name
Alice Lapthorn
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Anglia Ruskin University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
A breast tumour is a mass of tissue forming in the breast, which can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). While many lumps are harmless—such as fibroadenomas or cysts—malignant tumours can spread to surrounding tissue and other body parts. Diagnosis involves physical exams, mammograms, ultrasounds, and biopsies, with treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy. The tissue samples will be utilised to obtain cells, proteins and
other cellular components which will be used to test chemical and biological compounds in the laboratory to help us
understand how breast tumours develop and will aim to develop new therapeutics for this disease.
We have been working with human tissue in collaboration with several NHS Trusts across the UK, for over a
decade. We also hold scientific collaborations with other academic research institutes and
pharmaceutical companies to turn these discoveries into medicines. These collaborations may necessitate sharing
tissue and cell samples obtained from the patients.
We wish to collect a small piece of (2mm x 2mm) of tissue which will be collected for routine pathology purposes. No extra tissue will be taken for this project. Tissue samples will be collected from patients being treated at the Basildon & Thurrock University Hospital, Essex. Patients will be
asked to give fully informed consent before their surgery is due to take place. Tissue samples will be collected from
patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer. The specimens will be totally anonymised. There will no
additional intervention or change to the surgical procedure/patient care.
We are also seeking approval to share this material with other academic research institutes or pharmaceutical
companies who will be supporting us towards understanding how breast cancer develops.REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
26/WA/0196
Date of REC Opinion
10 Jul 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion