MISST
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Melanoma Immunomodulation and Immune Responses of the Skin Study: A Translational Science Research Protocol (MISST)
IRAS ID
158226
Contact name
Katie Lacy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Guy's & St Thomas' Foundation NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
10 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The incidence of malignant melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, is increasing of around 5% per year. The 5-year survival rate is under 10% for patients with metastatic stage and until recently, available treatments have been limited.
An important role of the immune system and clinical utility of antibody therapies for the treatment of melanoma has been recently demonstrated and this has focused renewed attention towards melanoma immunotherapies including treatments with monoclonal antibodies that can target key pathways and activate immunity against melanoma.
In this study we do aim to explore how the immune system in health and malignancy operates with a view of develop novel diagnostic or therapeutic tools for the treatment of melanoma.
We are particularly interested in immune cells and antibodies that are found in tumour lesions and in surrounding tissue.
Melanoma tissues will include primary lesions, in transit metastases, lymph node metastases and distal metastases which are surgically removed at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital. Any surplus melanoma tissue (and surrounding healthy tissue) from surgery and any tissue that has been taken for diagnostic histology will be requested for use in the study from consenting participants. To investigate the immune cell populations and antibodies in the blood, it is also intended to take blood samples from the same patients. In order to extract immune cells directly from the skin, skin suction blisters will also be performed on patients with a diagnosis of melanoma and healthy volunteers. Melanoma patients and healthy volunteers will be invited to consent to having a skin antigen challenge followed by either induction of a skin suction blister or a punch biopsy.
The tissues will be used to isolate cells, RNA, DNA and proteins by our team to compare molecular and immune responses in melanoma tissues, non-malignant melanocytic lesions and from healthy donors.REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0366
Date of REC Opinion
8 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion