Salivary extracellular vesicles for oral cancer diagnosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pilot study: Salivary extracellular vesicles as a source of biomarkers for diagnosis of oral cancer
IRAS ID
264332
Contact name
Stuart Hunt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Can saliva be used to diagnose oral cancer?
Surviving oral cancer relies on early detection and treatment, but many patients are not diagnosed until the disease is already at a late stage. For this reason new molecules (known as biomarkers) need to be discovered to help clinicians with early detection. Saliva (spit) contains many potential biomarkers and is an easy, painless sample to collect. One source of these biomarkers are tiny bubble-like structures present in saliva called extracellular vesicles(EVs). We will collect saliva from patients with oral cancer and also from healthy controls undergoing routine dental treatment so that we can isolate EVs. The EVs will be analysed in the laboratory to determine if there is a biomarker 'signature' associated with cancer. Our partner company, Aptamer Group, will also design 3D molecules called aptamers that will recognise and stick to cancer EVs in saliva. This is the first step in designing a spit-based diagnostic test to detect oral cancer EVs. The study will last up to 3 years and participants will be asked to provide 1 saliva sample and to answer a simple questionnaire (age, sex, smoking and drinking status).
REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NE/0248
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion