Genetic and cellular analysis of malignant haematological samples
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Determining how genetic and immunological change may lead to treatment resistance and relapse in haematological malignancies
IRAS ID
291028
Contact name
John R Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sussex
Duration of Study in the UK
10 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Each year, over 40000 people in the UK are diagnosed with blood cancers, including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Although patient outcomes are improving, cure or adequate disease control is still not possible for all. In most cancers there is a range of outcomes following treatment. Some patients have no response, others have a limited response, some achieve cure, whilst others may relapse following a period of remission. The mechanisms underlying these different outcomes are not fully understood, but such knowledge is required if further advances in therapy are to be achieved. \nBy analysing tissue samples taken at different time-points e.g. at diagnosis and relapse it is possible look for changes that may be a cause for the lack of treatment success. It is becoming evident that, in most cases, the events leading to relapse are multifactorial, being secondary to genetic change and cell behaviour. This proposed research will profile the immune cells and look at the genetic composition of the cancer cells. By gaining a thorough understanding of both the genetic and immune changes that occur in blood cancer we may be able to devise altered treatment strategies that improve outcomes. The analysis will be undertaken on samples collected as per routine care, namely, blood, bone marrow and lymph node tissue. Only tissue that is excess to that required for diagnostic purposes will be used. No bone marrow or lymph node samples will be taken purely for research. An additional blood sample will also be required, but this will be taken along with routine samples and therefore no hospital visits will be required solely for research purposes.\n
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/SC/0094
Date of REC Opinion
4 May 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion