Early predictive detection method for lung cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Early predictive detection method for lung cancer via vibrational spectroscopy of liquid biopsy
IRAS ID
276081
Contact name
Danielle Bury
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Blackpool teaching hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 3 days
Research summary
Lung cancer remains the 3rd most common cancer in the UK, with rates in Blackpool of approximately 160 new cases/year. The most common way lung cancer is discovered is through A&E attendance, usually meaning late diagnosis. The Blackpool area has been selected by NHS England as one of the sites to develop the new proposed National screening programme for lung cancer. People thought to be at risk of lung cancer will be invited to a lung health check and some will be sent for a CT scan. Our study aims to test a new method of detection for lung cancer, that we hope could be used in future as part of a screening test, designed to pick up lung cancer earlier, possibly before someone has symptoms. People who are sent for a CT scan, based upon the health check results will be asked to take part in our study. Once consented, they will be asked to provide a sample of saliva in a pot. The saliva would then be tested, using a hand-held infrared spectrometer. This is a tool that has many potential uses, both within industry and healthcare. It uses light shined on the sample to generate a ‘fingerprint’ of the saliva, which following computer analysis may distinguish those people with cancer from those without. The results from this test would be compared to the CT scan performed to see if this new tool is able to detect the people with cancer. The spectroscopy results would not have a role in the patient’s diagnosis or treatment as this test is being developed to ensure accuracy within this study. If successful, this test could be used in future as a screening test to help pick out people that require referral to hospital for investigation to diagnose and treat their cancer.
REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/PR/0390
Date of REC Opinion
19 Oct 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion