Shed tumour cells in bladder cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility study for the detection of shed urothelial tumour cells in the urine of bladder and upper urothelial tract cancer patients for monitoring and diagnosis
IRAS ID
183074
Contact name
S Jyoti Basu
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Astrimmune
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 29 days
Research summary
Can we detect and monitor bladder cancer with a urine test? For many patients with bladder cancer (BC), their cancer comes back after treatment and so they need to be regularly checked. These patients and other patients with symptoms that might suggest bladder cancer are checked with a cystoscope. This is a long thin flexible tube with a light and a camera at the end that is inserted into the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) and up into the bladder. The camera shows the inside of the bladder and the doctor can make a diagnosis. This method of diagnosis (cystoscopy) can be uncomfortable for the patient and is expensive to the NHS. The urine test alone is not accurate. This study aims to find out if we can detect shed cancer cells in the urine samples of BC patients using a new laboratory method. Urine from patients with and without BC will be tested and compared to see if the test can find cancer cells. The test is being developed and should be able to recognise cancer cells over other things often found in urine (like germs or crystals from stones). About 260 urine samples will be taken from patients and staff at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary hospital and Bradford Royal Infirmary. Patients will need to sign a consent form. They will share their diagnosis, medication details and urine test results from the hospital with the researchers. No more contact with the patients is needed and their personal data will not be shared. The urine will then be tested at Astrimmune’s laboratory (Huddersfield) using the new method with an instrument from Paraytec (York). If it works, this should reduce how often the cystoscope is needed and may even replace it. The study will last five months.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
15/WS/0122
Date of REC Opinion
10 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion