Serum biomarkers for the early detection of thyroid cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Serum biomarkers for the early detection of well differentiated thyroid cancer
IRAS ID
250333
Contact name
Stuart Savill
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
BCUHB
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Introduction
Thyroid cancer is commonest endocrine cancer seen in the world with a reported incidence of 12 in 100,000 people. The usual presenting complaint of patients with thyroid cancer is a nodule arising from the thyroid gland, a common occurrence in approximately 1 in 2 of the population over the age of 50. Current investigative methods of thyroid nodules by clinical examination and ultrasound guided cytology, will produce an uncertain diagnosis in up to 30% of patients. These patients will have to undergo surgery in order to ascertain the true nature of the thyroid nodule. Similarly detecting recurrence in those having been treated for thyroid cancer is difficult. Developing a serum biomarker that would aid clinicians in detecting thyroid cancer and/or recurrence is a recent trend that has been met with varying degrees of success. The objective of the proposed study would be to try and identify a suitable serum biomarker (or panel of biomarkers) that can reliably inform the clinician if a patient had new onset or recurrent thyroid cancer. The benefit would be earlier detection of cancer with subsequent improved survival and also reduction in the numbers of those undergoing unnecessary surgery with subsequent cost savings to the NHS.Materials & Methods
Patients due to undergo thyroid surgery will have pre and post surgery blood tests to screen for potential markers of thyroid cancer (demonstrated to be potentially important in cell transformation, tumour angiogenesis, vascular invasion and tumour seeding in previous studies). Once the surgery is completed the specimen will be tested for the presence of these markers histologically. Patients who are already being monitored for recurrence of thyroid cancer will also have annual blood tests for the biomarkers.Potential Conclusions
If the presence of a reliable and consistent biomarker (or panel of biomarkers) can be identified the treatment pathway of patients with thyroid nodules would significantly improve. The identification of a biomarker would reduce the necessity for thyroid surgery, speed up the diagnostic pathway for patients with thyroid cancer and improve the prognosis of patients with thyroid cancer (both new and recurrent). In turn, this would lead to significant cost savings for the NHS.REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/WM/0260
Date of REC Opinion
28 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion