Investigating the biology and clinical outcomes in laryngeal SCC
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the biology of laryngeal SCC and lymph node metastasis
IRAS ID
328083
Contact name
Rhona Hurley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS GGC R&I
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Laryngeal cancer is difficult to treat with no improvement in survival over recent years with recurrence rates of up to 50%. Lymph node metastasis in the neck is a poor prognostic finding. There is some debate with regards to the management of patients with T3N0 disease - sometimes the neck is electively treated with radiotherapy or surgery or not treated. This decision is made in conjunction with the MDT and the patient but is often not clear cut. Even for more advanced disease, there is debate as to the optimum treatment. Functional outcomes can be poor and affect patients with early stage disease who receive radical treatment, as well as those with more advanced disease.
The aim of this study is to better understand why sometimes patients get lymph node metastasis, are there any abnormal proteins or gene expression in the primary tumour that predisposes to this, and to use lab techniques to explore if there is a 'pre-metastatic phase'. The lymph nodes in the neck are in groups and we wish to explore what makes a node 'permissive' to cancer metastasis vs a 'non-permissive node'.m Furthermore, in those patients who had recurrence, is there anything that could predict this outwith what is already clinically known?
REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
23/SS/0090
Date of REC Opinion
21 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion