Investigating how platelets alter the genetics of breast cancer

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Investigating how platelet-derived oncogenic microRNAs (miRNAs) are altering the genetics of breast cancer cells.

• IRAS ID

  235632

• Contact name

  Wayne Roberts

• Contact email

  w.roberts@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Bradford University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 2 months, 12 days

• Research summary

  This application is for approval to gain a blood sample from diabetic patients recruited by our clinical collaborator Dr Donald Whitelaw at his clinic. We have funding from the charity Breast Cancer Now to run a three year PhD research project entitled ‘Investigating how platelet-derived oncogenic miRNAs are altering the genetics of breast cancer cells’.
  Diabetes is a strong risk factor for developing aggressive, rapidly spreading forms of breast cancer. We have preliminary data demonstrating that platelet blood cells in diabetic patients release small particles (microparticles) that contain specialised chemicals (miRNAs) which may help to promote cancer growth responses. This project will extract microparticles from diabetic patients blood to study how they promote cancer growth responses, and will identify which miRNAs found in the particles from diabetic donors help cancer development.

• REC name

  Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  18/YH/0172

• Date of REC Opinion

  2 May 2018

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion