Mi-HANNA (Microbiota in Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer) Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploratory Evaluation of the Microbiota in Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer
IRAS ID
292940
Contact name
Miguel Reis Ferreira
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the 6th most common cancer globally and affected 12,061 patients in the UK in 2015, with 4,047 dying from this disease in the same period. Patients with high-risk cancers receive radiotherapy as a cornerstone of their curative treatment. Unfortunately, survival rates are still limited, with only 28-67% of patients surviving their cancer for 5 years or more and about 30% of patients recurring during the first year after treatment. Cancers of the mouth, also termed oral cancers, carry a high risk of recurrence. It is unfortunately difficult to individualise treatment, as there are no reliable biomarkers allowing clinicians to predict which patients are more or less likely to respond to treatment.
The microbiota is a term collectively summarising the communities of microorganisms found in multicellular organisms such as humans. It plays a role in the development and progression of HNC. Specific microbiota also predict response to cancer therapies such as radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Its potential as a biomarker of the outcomes of HNC treatment is under-researched.
The microbiota can be further divided into tissue-associated (e.g., bacteria living in close contact to cancers/mucosae) and free-flowing bacteria (e.g., salivary bacteria). Most studies use salivary bacteria, which are more easily collected but are less representative of the tumour microenvironment. Tissue-associated bacteria are also known as bacterial biofilms.
In this pilot project, we aim to identify a bacterial signature of recurrent HNC. To do so, we will use swabs to understand which bacteria are closely associated with cancers of the mouth. We will also research the feasibility of novel methods to study bacterial biofilms. These results will provide pilot data for further translational studies, which will be aimed at establishing the microbiota as a predictor of treatment outcomes in HNC.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SW/0107
Date of REC Opinion
24 Aug 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion