Liquid biopsies for solid paediatric cancers
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Liquid biopsies for biomarker development, molecular tumour profiling and disease monitoring in paediatric solid tumour patients: a feasibility study
IRAS ID
281408
Contact name
John Anderson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Background: The overall survival of children with solid tumors needs to be improved and new methods for detecting and monitoring paediatric tumors are required. Tumor biopsies help us understand the genetic make-up of cancer but these are intrusive procedures. Understanding these genetic changes in the tumor is important, as they may open up new treatment options. Scientists can now reliable isolate fragments of DNA from cancer cells, which are shed into a patients’ blood, urine, saliva, etc, which are much less invasive to collect. This DNA is referred to as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). We can also now measure and sequence ctDNA to identify genetic changes. Earlier studies suggest that the total amount of ctDNA may predict advanced tumor stage and the quantity of ctDNA isolated from different body sites may depend on the type of tumor. \n\nAims: This project is a feasibility study to look to see if we can collect serial samples such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, bone marrow, urine, saliva, etc, from patients and isolate ctDNA from these samples. We then want to compare the genetic changes present in a tumor sample taken at diagnosis and/or relapse to the genetic changes found in the ctDNA isolated from the same patient. We also want to look at the differences in ctDNA found over time and if the amount of ctDNA isolated changes with treatment. We want to determine if this could be a method used to detect new genetic tumor mutations for patients, which may then be targeted by drug therapies. \n\nEligibility: We want to conduct the study at two hospitals, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Royal Marsden Hospital. The study will include all patients with a possible or confirmed diagnosis of a solid tumor or Langerhan Cell Histiocytosis between the ages of 0-24 years who have signed informed consent.\n
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/YH/0216
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jul 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion