Impact of microbiome on UGI and LGI symptoms after oesophagectomy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Changes in salivary and faecal microbiome associated with upper gastrointestinal and lower gastrointestinal symptoms after oesophagectomy
IRAS ID
287425
Contact name
Sheraz Markar
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Cancer of the esophagus (gullet) is among the world's top five cancers. Surgical resection is a standard treatment given in multimodality treatment of early esophageal cancers. In recent years, studies have indicated that postoperative complications, including anastomotic leak, may increase loco-regional recurrence and reduce long-term survival following esophagectomy for cancer. Surgical resection for esophageal cancer has a profound long-term impact upon health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients and multimodality treatment can exacerbate the impact upon HRQL. A recent large European multi-centre cohort study evaluated the most important symptoms affecting HRQL following esophagectomy and identified that these symptoms cluster into specific domains including reflux or regurgitation problems and diarrhoea or dumping symptoms.
The gut microbiome is the totality of microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi, and their collective genetic material present in the gastrointestinal tract. Recently much attention and research has been focused on the study of the gut microbiome and its role in cancer development. A gap in the present literature exists regarding the effect of treatment upon changes in the host microbiome of esophageal cancer patients, and how these changes may be associated with long-term symptoms and HRQL. The aim of this study is to identify microbiota of interest in post-operative symptomotology. Salivary and fecal microbiota will be examined and associated with upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms after esophagectomy.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SC/0124
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jun 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion