Pathological analysis of glioblastoma tissue in elderly patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What is the clinical and biological significance of MGMT methylation, IDH1 mutation and further pathological screening tests in glioblastoma multiforme in over 70 year olds?
IRAS ID
188170
Contact name
Juliet Brock
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 0 days
Research summary
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a devastating disease with approximately 5,000 new cases diagnosed annually in the UK. The highest incidence rates are in older age groups, and the expectation is that incidence will increase with the aging population. Survival is poor, with the highest mortality rates in older people. Therapeutic options are particularly limited for older patients, partly because they tolerate cytotoxic treatments less well and partly because their tumours appear to be more resistant. Assessment of older patients with GBM is often challenging because of the mix of tumour related symptoms and pre-existing comorbities, and it can be difficult to predict who will benefit from active treatment.
After surgery, palliative radiotherapy is often given. However there is interest in the use of chemotherapy alone as first line treatment. 2 trials in older patients with GBM have shown a benefit for this strategy if the tumour samples taken at surgery display certain histopathological characteristics.
The aims of the proposed research are
1. to evaluate novel and established prognostic and predictive biomarkers in this population
2. to develop a tool that will enable individualization of treatment and enhance clinical decision making in these patients.The project will include the development of a retrospective database, collecting clinical, radiological, pathological and outcome data on patients aged ≥70 with GBM. Archived histopathology specimens will be obtained retrospectively and tested for a number of molecular biomarkers.
Data from the retrospective study will be used to design a prospective cohort study for GBM patients aged ≥70 in three centres (Sussex, Glasgow and the Royal Marsden).The database will be interrogated to investigate novel molecular biomarkers from the retrospective histopathological samples. Ultimately the retrospective and prospectively collected data will be used to develop a prognostic and/or predictive tool to guide treatment decisions in elderly GBM patients.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0742
Date of REC Opinion
23 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion