PD-RAD sample analysis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
PD-RAD sample analysis: A translational study investigating immune changes in tumour and blood after radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using samples from the PD-RAD trial
IRAS ID
297993
Contact name
Tim Illidge
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Radiotherapy (RT) has been shown to have both positive and negative immune effects on the tumour microenvironment. Whilst immune checkpoint inhibition has been shown to enhance the efficacy of RT in some murine models, it is hypothesised that those tumours with low numbers of infiltrating T-cells or large numbers of immunosuppressive myeloid cells might benefit from combining different immuno-oncology (IO) agents with RT. Thus it is important to determine what effects RT has on the tumour immune microenvironment and identify immune biomarkers which might predict which IO agent to combine with RT.
Furthermore, investigating systemic immune changes in peripheral blood and comparing them to those seen in the tumour may help in the identification of non-invasive biomarkers which are reflective of changes in the tumour.
The PD-RAD study was a translational study looking at upregulation of PD-L1 after radiotherapy in patients with NSCLC. Patients consented to donate a diagnostic biopsy and an additional biopsy during the second week of radiotherapy, along with regular blood samples. Tumour biopsies were formalin fixed and embedded in paraffin, PBMC and plasma were isolated from peripheral blood and tempus tubes were stored for future isolation of RNA from blood. During the study RNA was extracted from tumour biopsies and stored for future research.
We wish to continue analysis of these samples to look for RT induced changes and potential biomarkers of RT induced changes or response. The results from this study will increase our understanding of the immune response to radiotherapy, and guide future research studies.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/YH/0289
Date of REC Opinion
22 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion