REQUITE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Validating predictive models and biomarkers of radiotherapy toxicity to reduce side-effects and improve quality-of-life in cancer survivors
IRAS ID
143488
Contact name
Catharine West
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Research summary
The study is to trying to predict which patients who have radiotherapy for their cancer are most likely to have side effects. We are interested in side effects that occur about 2 years after treatment (late effects). About half of all cancer patients have radiotherapy as part of their treatment. It is important to give as much radiation to a tumour as possible but increasing the amount of radiation (radiation dose) increases the risk of harming the healthy cells that surround the tumour. Patients vary in how they react to radiation. About 5% of patients (5 out of every 100) are sensitive and have late side effects that affect their quality-of-life. In recent years, researchers developed models and biological tests to try and identify before the start of treatment those patients who are very sensitive. However, the methods are not yet ready to use in the clinic so radiation doses for all patients are currently limited by the doses the most sensitive patients can have. The international REQUITE multicentre observational study is the largest study of its kind, and the information collected will allow researchers to test these models and biological markers so they are good enough to be used on patients. The results from REQUITE should confirm and/or improve current models and biological tests to predict if a patient will have side effects after radiotherapy. If we are successful, then in future we could measure a patient’s radiosensitivity before they start their radiotherapy. The sensitive patients could be given less radiation and other patients more radiation so they are more likely to be cured. This should reduce side effects for all patients, improve quality-of-life and increase the number of patients cured of their cancer.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/0035
Date of REC Opinion
28 Feb 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion