Genetics, epigenetics and proteomics of inflammation associated cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Genetic, epigenetic, and protein signatures in colitis associated colorectal cancer pathogenesis
IRAS ID
219482
Contact name
Justin Stebbing
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Many changes occur in the genes and protein molecules inside a cell which turns them into cancer cells from normal. There still remain many questions unanswered in relation to the origin and progression of these cancers.
There are benign diseases which predispose an individual to cancer of the large bowel such as inflammatory bowel disease. The changes that occur at an accelerated rate in the cells due to these conditions may carry clues to identifying the molecular basis of cancer development and progression.
We intend to study the changes that occur in genes (changes to structure and function of the genes) and protein molecules within the cells of the large bowel during the transformation of a normal colonic tissue to cancer. We hope to study the normal tissue as well as inflamed, pre-cancerous and cancer tissue to understand this step-wise process. We also look into detecting the genetic changes in blood or large bowel epithelial (covering) cells shed in faces. This will allow us to develop a simpler/non-invasive diagnostic method.
The study will involve collecting surplus tissue after surgical resections of large bowel for inflammatory, cancer or other benign diseases from consented patients. Also, biopsy samples will be requested from patients with diseased and normal colons who undergo endoscopy for diagnostic or treatment purposes. We intend to collect a one-off the blood (5ml; 1 teaspoons) and a feces sample from patients.
The sample collection will be done from colorectal surgical and gastroenterology units at St.mark's and Newham Hospitals during the routine care of these patients. Follow up visits or procedures are not required for research purpose. We intend to collect 10 samples from each category - normal, inflamed, mild to moderate dysplastic (precancerous changes), severe dysplastic and cancer.
The behaviour of molecular pathways involved in cancer and their effects on genes will be assessed.REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0206
Date of REC Opinion
30 May 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion