MOCA-PC v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Molecular characterization of advanced penile cancer: MOCA-PC
IRAS ID
335061
Contact name
Pasquale Rescigno
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Penile cancer/Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is a rare aggressive cancer with limited treatment options. Penile cancer mainly affects men aged ≥60 years and its aetiology is multifactorial. Penile cancer commonly shows an aggressive behaviour, and patients with advanced or metastatic disease have a very dismal prognosis with a median survival of less than 12 months. Surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy are the only established standard treatment options. Predictive and prognostic biomarkers along with studies on the tumour microenvironment, from both primary and metastatic lesions, are largely lacking but are needed to characterise the molecular irregularities leading to Penile cancer development and identify suitable targets for novel and tailored treatment approaches.
A major detriment to pioneering basic and translational research is the lack of established and commercially available cell line models. As part of this application, we aim to start developing patient-derived models in order to subsequently (i) study the molecular features of penile cancer (ii) identify drivers of metastasis and treatment-resistance, (iii) thereby define novel prognostic and predictive biomarkers.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0023
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jan 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion