Immune control of EBV-positive DLBCL (ICEPOP) version 1.0

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Immune control of EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL): prospective and retrospective studies (ICEPOP Study)

• IRAS ID

  183631

• Contact name

  Graham Taylor

• Contact email

  g.s.taylor@bham.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Birmingham

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 0 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is common and highly aggressive. Many patients fail existing treatments and 30% will die from their disease. The tumours frequently appear to have avoided immune responses directed against them, although how they avoid these responses and the identity of the immune targets in the cancer cells are poorly understood.
  The most aggressive form of DLBCL carries the Epstein­ Barr virus (EBV) and the cancer cells contain viral proteins that, being totally foreign to the immune system, should be easy targets for the immune system to recognise. How these tumours develop and avoid the strong anti­viral immunity present in most people is unknown. Understanding this will help develop novel approaches to treat both the viral and non-viral forms of DLBCL
  We will collect blood and tumour samples from patients with EBV ­DLBCL to identify potential immune defects that allow the disease to develop. We will also study the role the virus plays in the disease. We will also study patients whose tumour doesn't carry the virus. This comparison will help identify distinct aspects of EBV-DLBCL and allow us to learn more about the disease in general. We aim to study blood and tumour from all cases of EBV-DLBCL that we identify (an estimated 10­-20 cases in our patient population) and some two to three times that number of EBV-negative cases for comparison. Because of the rarity of EBV-DLBCL we will also need to make as much use as possible of archived DLBCL biopsy specimens, from patients enrolled on the study (using their original diagnostic biopsy) and collections of DLBCL biopsies held elsewhere. We will screen these biopsy samples for EBV positivity and study the virus positive cases (and some negative cases for comparison) in depth. It is expected the study will take about 3.5 years to complete.

• REC name

  West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  15/WM/0419

• Date of REC Opinion

  20 Jan 2016

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion