Expression of immune checkpoints in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma and dysplasia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Expression of immune checkpoints in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma and dysplasia
IRAS ID
182933
Contact name
Alastair Fry
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust - Clinical research office
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Mouth cancer, the most common type of which is Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is a disease with poor survival rates. The disease and current treatments are recognised to cause significant deterioration in patients quality of life. 5 year survival rates have altered little over the past few decades remaining around 50%.
Research has shown that how tumours interact with both the immune system and the surrounding tissues , or stroma, has a major influence on tumour progression and growth.Recent findings suggest tumour cells can develop mechanisms to evade the immune system by expressing Programme Death Ligand 1 (PDL1) signalling protein on the cell wall. PDL1 effectively inactivates a significant part of the normal immune response.
Targeted cancer therapies exploiting this mechanism are currently being trialled in other tumours. By performing immunohistochemistry ( a technique for directly examining the proteins on individual cells ) on 100 archived OSCC, 100 oral dysplasia's ( early mouth lesions with potential to become tumours) and 50 neck metastases (deposits spread from the tumour) we will determine whether this promising therapeutic target applies to mouth cancer management.
Samples tested will be anonymised and all taken at least 5 years previously. Matched anonymised data will be requested from the treatment team to assess any influence on overall survival and recurrence rates. Published evidence suggests tumours may acquire PDL1 expression via epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process common to wound healing, development and cancer progression where cells can change shape, become mobile and acquire other characteristics. We would investigate this process using immunohistochemistry looking for coexisting presence of known EMT markers .
Findings of this study, which could inform a future clinical trial of newly available drug treatments, will be submitted for publication in a peer reviewed journal.REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1371
Date of REC Opinion
31 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion