Skin-infiltrating leukaemias
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does re-activation of developmental programmes support skin infiltration in leukaemia?
IRAS ID
329860
Contact name
Laura Jardine
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood cells. It affects 10,000 new people per year in the UK, and that number is rising as our population ages. Despite improvements in care and treatment, around half of patients will die of their leukaemia. Leukaemia is typically sensitive to chemotherapy, but achieving a sustained response requires effective eradication of leukaemia cells from all sites. Environments within the body where leukaemia cells are supported or protected can prevent effective eradication. Understanding these environments in greater detail will give us new ideas for targeting residual leukaemia cells and may lead to novel treatments.
The skin is one environment where leukaemia cells may be protected. Leukaemia can be present in the skin at first diagnosis and at relapse. In both situations, it is an indicator of aggressive disease and likely poor outcome. Why leukaemia can accumulate in the skin is not fully understood. In our previous work, we have identified that skin supports normal blood cell development during fetal life. In some circumstances, biological pathways that are active during development can re-emerge in adult disease. We aim to find out if re-expression of developmental programs allows the skin to support leukaemia cells. The proposed project will identify what these mechanisms of support are and investigate how they could be targeted to improve treatment.
Patients with clinically suspected skin involvement at leukaemia diagnosis or relapse who are suitable for skin biopsy will be eligible. The study will involve inpatients at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care. Eligible patients will be asked to provide up to two 3mm skin biopsies (before and after treatment) and one 10ml blood sample. Patient involvement will last one month. Tissue samples will be accompanied by relevant demographic and diagnostic information.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 1
REC reference
24/WS/0018
Date of REC Opinion
19 Mar 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion