The consequences of SDHA fusion on tumour metabolics in liposarcoma
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The consequences of SDHA fusion gene on tumourigenesis and tumour metabolics in well differentiated retroperitoneal liposarcoma
IRAS ID
238251
Contact name
Victoria Wykes
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Well differentiated retroperitoneal liposarcoma (WD-RPLS) is a rare type of cancer that is neither sensitive to chemo or radiotherapy, and requires life changing surgery to remove it. We have been searching for new chemotherapy targets that could allow us to shrink these cancers down before surgery. If we can achieve this, any surgery would potentially be less disfiguring with a lower risk of complications.
We have looked at the entire genetic code of these cancers using a technology called whole genome sequencing. We have found a fault whereby part of one gene (called SDHA) sticks to another gene (known as a gene fusion), causing SDHA to stop working. The SDHA gene is part of a process by which we produce energy, and faults in this gene have been shown to cause other types of cancer. We are interested in looking at the consequences of the SDHA fusion gene on the different pathways the cell uses to create energy.
Our aim is to give patients going for surgery to remove a WD-RPLS a specialised form of glucose (13C), activating the body’s energy pathways. Once the tumour is removed, we will use samples from it to see which abnormal methods the cancer is using to create energy, through a process called mass spectroscopy. These abnormal pathways are targets for drug therapies, limiting the ability of the cancer cell to grow and divide.This study will be funded by the University of Birmingham and aims to recruit patients from the Midlands Abdominal and Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Unit (MARSU) based at the Queen Elizabeth (QE) Hospital, Birmingham.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0587
Date of REC Opinion
16 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion