Oesophageal Squamous cell CARcinoma (OSCAR) study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Study to determine novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and to inform therapeutic management of Oesophageal Squamous Cell Dysplasia and Carcinoma (OSCAR)
IRAS ID
155007
Contact name
Rebecca Fitzgerald
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Oesophageal cancer is the 8th most common cancer and the 6th most frequent cause of mortality for cancer worldwide. Despite improvements in cancer therapy, oesophageal cancer remains a very aggressive disease with a 5-year survival rate of 19% in Western Countries, and less than 10% in developing countries. There are two main types of oesophageal cancer: oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Worldwide OSCC is the predominant sub-type, with a particularly high incidence in Asia. In the UK OSCC account for around 40% of oesophageal cancer cases. Squamous cell dysplasia is a precancerous condition to OSCC. While the risk factors and the genetic changes driving the development of OSCC are well understood in different geographies, the molecular alterations leading to squamous cell dysplasia and its progression to invasive cancer are less understood and have been so far been vastly understudied. Understanding the molecular events is the first step towards developing novel tests for diagnosis and individualized treatment.
In the current study, we hypothesise that molecular alterations that characterise the development of OSCC can be used to develop clinically relevant diagnostic biomarkers to improve early diagnosis, tumour classification and therapeutic management.
The aims of the study are to:
• Identify key molecular changes that occur as squamous dysplasia develops and progresses into invasive OSCC
• Develop clinical assays for early detection of disease
• Develop and validate improved staging and prognostic algorithms based on molecular biomarkers to inform therapeutic decisionsREC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EE/0226
Date of REC Opinion
24 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion