Target NET
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of the molecular, immunological and genetic features associated with neuroendocrine tumour dissemination, progression and response to treatment
IRAS ID
222942
Contact name
Judith Cave
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
10 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) are rare, and there are many different subtypes. For example they can arise in bowel, pancreas or lung, but they can also be found in the skin, thymus and other sites. The prognosis of NETs is generally favourable, with a median overall survival of 75 months. However, survival is very variable.
The primary treatment for Grade 1 and Grade 2 NETs is surgery, although long-acting octreotide, radiolabelled octreotide (Peptide Receptor Radionucleotide Therapy or PRRT), chemotherapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitors or mTOR inhibitors can also be considered. Unfortunately due to the rare and heterogeneous nature of this disease there aren’t any head-to-head trials comparing different treatment strategies e.g. chemotherapy vs everolimus.
There are three key reasons why we are embarking on a project to improve understanding of the molecular, immunological and genetic features associated with NET dissemination, prognosis and response to treatment.
1. There has been only minimal improvement in outcomes for patients with NETs over the last 30 years. Large clinical trials have not been possible due to the rare and heterogeneous nature of the disease. Evidence to guide treatment selection for patients with NETs is urgently required.
2. We need to improve our ability to prognosticate accurately for patients with NETs.
3. A better understanding of NET biology may lead to a greater range of treatment options for patients with this rare disease, for example immunotherapy.
There are two parts to the study
Part A: To study archival tissue in consort with clinical data from our NET patients, to develop a molecular classification for NETs
Part B: To collect fresh tissue from tumour and healthy tissue, and blood samples, to perform testing including immune profiling and single cell sequencing to further explore specific hypotheses identified from Part A.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0978
Date of REC Opinion
14 Sep 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion