Hypoxia gene signature as a biomarker in prostate cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development and validation of a hypoxia gene signature as a biomarker of radioresistance in prostate cancer
IRAS ID
180560
Contact name
Catharine West
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
We wish to identify biologic markers which could be used to help predict the outcome of treatment in prostate cancer and therefore help inform treatment choice. Although prostate cancer is very sensitive to standard radiotherapy treatment, some tumours do not respond to standard treatment as well as expected.
One of the causes of poor response is the presence of areas of low oxygen (hypoxia) within the tumour. Our goal is to be able to predict who might benefit from an alternative treatment. We think this can be done by measuring a set of genes (a gene signature) in a biopsy specimen.
We have previously demonstrated that this is possible for head and neck tumours but the same set of genes does not work in prostate cancer. We have now have a possible set of genes which should work in prostate cancer.
If we can demonstrate this test works in prostate cancer it could be tested in a clinical trial and if successful then introduced into clinical practice. This would mean the original diagnostic biopsy from prostate cancer patients could provide additional information on the best treatment for them. Given the large number of prostate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy each year this has the potential to have a significant benefit on cancer survival in the UK.
This study will be done by scientists and clinicians who have a long standing collaboration and have used the same approach successfully in another type of cancer. The study will use surplus material from the original diagnostic tumour samples collected from patients.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0559
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion