GU ctDNA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating novel monitoring techniques with circulating tumour DNA and updated quality of life surveys for patients with metastatic renal and urothelial cancers.
IRAS ID
343097
Contact name
Thomas Powles
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
This study aims to investigate the prognostic role of ctDNA in patients with metastatic kidney and bladder cancers and to better understand the impact of modern systemic therapy on quality of life (QoL) in patients with metastatic kidney cancer. Specifically, the study aims to study the following:
• We aim to better characterize the association between baseline participant and tumour factors and the presence of detectable ctDNA. ctDNA is an evolving technology that can be financially restrictive for self-funded or publicly funded healthcare systems, therefore, there is interest in identifying patient and tumour characteristics that are associated with detectable ctDNA to better select participant to test.
• We aim to determine the prognostic significance of detectable ctDNA. If detectable ctDNA is found to be associated with worse prognosis (shorter time to progression or survival), then this signifies that ctDNA may be useful in identifying participant that need to be monitored more closely or to have a lower threshold to change to a different therapy. Related to this, we aim to determine the significance of having detectable ctDNA and then having undetectable ctDNA after starting treatment (and conversely those participant that do not have ctDNA clearance), which may alter how close treatment monitoring should be done and may be predictive of treatment response.
• For QoL, the current questionnaires are outdated, and many questions are not relevant to patients receiving modern therapies. This study aims to prospectively evaluate the new QoL questionnaire from Bergerot et al. and compare its ability to detect significant changes in QoL as opposed to the traditional QoL questionnaire, the EORTC CLC Q30.
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/0140
Date of REC Opinion
17 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion