Sarcomas before and after chemo-radiotherapy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Sarcomas before and after chemo-radiotherapy: Is the recurrence always similar to the primary? Why can the recurrence be morphologically different? What are the mechanisms involved?
IRAS ID
262661
Contact name
Maurizio Brotto
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
ABMU Health Board
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
19/|ES/0035, 19/ES/0035
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
Sarcomas are a mixed group of cancers with unknown cause. Usually the treatment is surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy although this conventional treatment has not resolved the problem of the spread and recurrence of the disease and Survivors of sarcoma may develop a new cancer later on: this recurrence is called a radiation-induced sarcoma (RIS). A period of six months between treatment of the initial cancer and the recurrence is sufficient to affirm the diagnosis of RIS.\nThe generally accepted criteria of RIS is the development of sarcoma in the area of the original tumour but where the second sarcoma has different characteristics.\nIn general, the risk of developing a solid tumour after radiation treatment goes up as the dose of radiation increases. Higher radiation doses cause cell death, whilst lower doses cause defects in genes relating to DNA repair and damage cell repair mechanisms which causes small breaks in the DNA inside the cells. These breaks stop cancer cells from growing and dividing and often makes them die. \n\nVery little is known about the genetic changes involved in the development of RIS. According to a recent study these tumours have complex genetic changes of a particular type that are more frequent than those seen in sarcomas that arise spontaneously. Recently, a genomic study reported a particular genetic alteration in 55% of post irradiation angiosarcoma that was not seen in the original tumour.\nIt has been proven that the incidence of RIS is increasing. Current therapies, although improving, are not specific and unfortunately, relapses still occur. Surprisingly, some recurrences are different from the primary tumour and this mechanism is still unknown.\n\n
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0123
Date of REC Opinion
5 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion