Characterisation of extracellular vesicles in head and neck precancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Utilization of salivary extracellular vesicles as non-invasive biomarkers for head and neck precancer.
IRAS ID
297070
Contact name
Paul Hankinson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
6 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Head and neck precancer lesions (HNPL) usually appear as white or red patches in the mouth, throat or nose. Some will become head and neck cancers (HNSCC), though not all. There are no objective or reliable ways to determine which HNPL will and which will not become cancer. Currently, the clinical features (size, colour, texture) and microscopic features (requiring a biopsy to see) are used to inform cancer risk and treatment. However, these factors are subjective and have a weak evidence base.
Extracellular vesicles (EV) are tiny particles that are produced by all cells. They are found in bodily fluids such as blood or saliva and act as a means of communication between cells. They have recently gained interest as a new source of biomarkers (signals of specific diseases) in cancer. Several features of EV found in saliva of patients with mouth cancer are different to those with a healthy mouth. No studies have investigated the characteristics of EV in the saliva or tissues of patients with HNPL. There is potential that EV in saliva and tissue could be used as a test to diagnose HNPL and determine which will become cancer and which will not.
To address this possibility we will collect saliva from healthy volunteers, patients with HNPL and those with HNSCC. We will also investigate tissue from biopsies of HNPL and HNSCC. The EV will be separated from the saliva or tissue and their physical and composition characteristics assessed. The physical differences will include the shape, size and number while the composition investigated will include proteins and RNA (cell communication chemicals). Follow up of patient will highlight which HNPL became cancer over time. Any features of EV specific to HNPL or the HNPL which became cancer could be developed into diagnostic tests and tests to predict cancer development.
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
22/NI/0041
Date of REC Opinion
23 Feb 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion