CLL: immunity, mutation and treatment response
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Response to contemporary therapies for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia: Immune reconstitution, immune function, disease response and mutational analysis
IRAS ID
314733
Contact name
Darren Newton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
10 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL), the most common Leukaemia in the UK, is changing rapidly. Newer treatments lead to improved disease management.
However, despite treatment advances two major pitfalls remain: disease relapse, and impaired immune responses in patients on treatment, which can result in infections and poor vaccine response.
We will perform detailed genomic research to explore these pitfalls, which aims to uncover why patients are relapsing and how the immune system is affected during treatment. This could lead to development of personalised medicine that enables long and healthy remissions.
To do this we need to include characterisation of B cells, the white blood cells that respond to infection to develop and produce antibodies. The challenge is that B cells are often present at low levels in patients on treatment or relapsing.
Using state-of-the-art genomic technology and, when necessary, a larger volume blood sample from patients, we can interrogate samples down to these small populations B of cells. This will enable us to demonstrate how normal B cells and CLL cells respond to treatment, or why a patient is relapsing. As a world-class CLL centre, we can correlate our findings with clinical data, providing an unprecedented level of insight into the immunological and disease responses of patients on modern CLL treatments.
CLL patient blood samples and control blood samples from their relatives or friends will be consented for and taken during clinic attendance at St James’s University Hospital. In addition we will also approach colleagues at the University of Leeds for control samples, and access stored samples consented for research.
New blood samples will be a one-off except for CLL patients who relapse, who will be asked for additional samples. Bone marrow will only be taken from patients who are undergoing the procedure anyway as part of their treatment.REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NW/0369
Date of REC Opinion
6 Jan 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion