Characterization of killer cells in ovarian cancer

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Characterization of killer cells in ovarian cancer

  • IRAS ID

    312429

  • Contact name

    Francesco Colucci

  • Contact email

    fc287@medschl.cam.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Unversity of Cambridge

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    201-15, Ethical permit from the regional ethical committee, Gothenburg, Sweden

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 11 months, 28 days

  • Research summary

    Ovarian cancer is the most lethal of gynecological cancers, with a poor prognosis for patients that are diagnosed in late stages due to lack of efficient therapies. Thus, there is a big demand to develop new therapies to treat ovarian cancer. In this study, we want to investigate how certain immune cells with an inherent capacity to kill transformed cells are regulated in ovarian cancer. Moreover, we will investigate if a specific type of drug that interferes with the inhibitory input that killer cells may receive from tumor cells, called checkpoint blockade treatment, may potentiate the killer cells to better eradicate tumor cells. The overall aim is to get one step closer to the use of immunotherapy in ovarian cancer, leading to prolonged survival for these patients.

    This is a collaborative project between University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and University of Cambridge, UK. Samples from patients with ovarian cancer are collected at the Sahlgrenska hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden, and shipped to Cambridge for further analysis.

  • REC name

    London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    22/PR/0287

  • Date of REC Opinion

    8 Mar 2022

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion