Expression of tumour markers in tissue samples
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Characterising the expression, and co-expression, of universal tumour associated antigens in primary and secondary liver cancers.
IRAS ID
225173
Contact name
Oliver Rupar
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Plymouth
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 10 months, 5 days
Research summary
Liver cancer is becoming more prevalent, carries a dreadful prognosis and there is an urgent need for the development of novel therapies, and monitoring of disease status. Owing to the anatomical site of the liver, it is also a common organ for malignancy to spread to both at the time of original diagnosis and subsequently. Ascertaining which cancer will recur either soon after diagnosis, during follow up or after remission is an extremely difficult question to answer. It remains unclear which cancers will behave in this manner and indeed if, or when this will happen.\n\nA new family of tumour associated markers have been found to be over expressed in a number of different malignancies and are a potential target for the novel therapies, given sufficient expression and characterisation. There have been recent advances in immunotherapy for melanoma and prostatic carcinoma, with the development of checkpoint inhibitors (such as Ipilimumab) and cellular immunological agents (Sipuleucel-T) that are now part of the therapeutic arsenal available to clinicians. It is hoped further advances can be made in the treatment of primary (and secondary) liver cancers with the identification of similar targets once further characterisation has taken place.\n\nAnalysis of the expression of these tumour markers and the clinical characteristics associated with both liver primary and metastatic diseases will guide potential therapies for future patients. The expression characteristics will be analysed in tissue from historical formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) cancers, allowing this to be further understood. The behaviour of the malignancies will include; stage of disease (how far has it spread), aggressiveness (grade), invasive potential, resistance to current therapies and recurrence of disease. Of particular interest would be whether the expression of these antigens changes when spreading to liver tissue.\n
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0457
Date of REC Opinion
3 Aug 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion