Risk stratification by lymph liquid biopsy in cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An evaluation of prognostic biomarkers in tumour-draining lymph liquid biopsies in patients with cutaneous melanoma and breast cancer
IRAS ID
326606
Contact name
George Adigbli
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Research Governance, Ethics and Assurance
Duration of Study in the UK
13 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This proof-of-concept study aims to improve prediction of cancer spread. Currently, certain patients with melanoma and breast cancer have a routine operation called a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) to check whether cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes. However, concerns its accuracy have arisen because many patients given a negative result still die prematurely. As such, more accurate methods of predicting cancer spread are needed.
This study investigates lymph for predicting cancer metastasis. Lymph is a fluid that circulates throughout the body, playing a vital role in the immune system. Melanoma, breast and other cancers use lymph as a vehicle to spread around the body. Recent research suggests that analysing lymph could provide valuable early insights into cancer spread.
We have developed a technique for collecting lymph during routine SLNB surgery. In this study, we will analyse determine its potential to predict cancer spread. If successful, this approach could enable doctors to tailor treatments more effectively based on individual patients' biology, potentially improving outcomes.
We will recruit patients with suspected melanoma and diagnosed breast cancer who are scheduled for biopsy surgery, SLNB or removal of cancerous lymph nodes from two NHS plastic and breast surgery departments. Blood, tumour, and lymph nodes surplus to diagnostic requirements will be collected, with lymph. We will analyse these using advanced techniques, to identify early biological markers of spread. We will also analyse archival paired tumour and lymph nodes from patients with known cancer outcomes. This enables identification of markers of cancer spread, the most promising of which we will use to validate the markers we find in lymph.
This proof-of-concept study will lay the groundwork for the development of a novel prognostic test. If successful, it could improve prediction of cancer spread, enabling earlier detection and more targeted treatment strategies.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0257
Date of REC Opinion
16 Sep 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion