Pleural Effusion and Tissue Macrophage Study (PETMAC study)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The delineation of pleural macrophages in malignant pleural effusions and identification of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers to inform on future therapeutics
IRAS ID
362548
Contact name
Cyrus Daneshvar
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
????, Plymouth Ethics Online System
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Malignant pleural disease, including Mesothelioma, is common and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In lung cancer, pleural involvement is common, at times difficult to diagnose, and associated with a poor prognosis. Diagnosis relies on analysis of pleural fluid or biopsies.
The malignant pleural space is recognized to be dynamic, with competing immune pathways, balancing pro-inflammatory tumor toxic pathways, and anti-inflammatory -permissive, tumor-supporting responses such as immune evasion, tumor growth and vascularization, and disease progression. Across animal models and in limited patient cohorts, or restricted to fluid rather than biopsy tissue the rich interplay remains poorly understood.
Resident pleural macrophages and those recruited to the pleural space play a role in MPE. Based on studies in different malignancies tumor-associated macrophages (TAMS) are components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and have been studied in various tumors. However macrophages in the pleural space have not been well characterized in human malignant disease populations.
However, We require a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in disease evolution to inform on earlier and more specific/sensitive diagnostics and therapeutic targets.
We aim to characterise the immunological profile, macrophage population and function in pleural fluid and tissue in a well characterized cohort of patients with mesothelioma and a range of other malignant and benign causes of pleural effusions.
Patients will be recruited if undergoing diagnostic testing as part of their routine care, left over pleural fluid will be collected. If undergoing pleural biopsies (thoracoscopy or ultrasound guided biopsy as part of routine practice), study-specific pleural biopsies if deemed safe to do so.
REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/LO/0434
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jun 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion