Establishing a model for HPV-positive Gynaecological Cancer Research

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Tumour tissue procurement to allow establishment of primary cell cultures for use in Human papillomavirus-mediated cancer research.

• IRAS ID

  154415

• Contact name

  Joseph Sacco

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Liverpool

• Duration of Study in the UK

  7 years, 0 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection and persistence of the virus in human tissues is associated with an increased risk of malignancy. HPV associated cancers arise in a range of anatomical sites including the back of the mouth (oropharyngeal) and both the anogential region of males (anus and penis) and females (cervix, anus and external genitals). HPV associated gynaecological cancers are a source of considerable morbidity and mortality. The treatments available for such cancers are limited and result in short and long term adverse side effects for patients. The potential exists to explore new treatments that could be better tailored to the individual and their malignancy.
  The establishment of primary cell cultures from patients with HPV associated gynaecological cancers will allow ongoing research into the biology of this group of tumours with the potential to identify new biomarkers of disease and therapeutic targets. The proposed model offers significant advantages over established commercially available cell lines as primary patient-derived cell lines are more representative of the originating tissue. This study will characterise patient derived-primary cell cultures and carry out functional studies to provide evidence that any molecular aberrations seen in matched fixed or frozen tissue are driving the cancer process in vitro. This model will also enable assessment of primary cell line behaviour in response to drugs or ionizing radiation.

• REC name

  North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  15/NW/0425

• Date of REC Opinion

  27 May 2015

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion