The Functional B cell Response in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Determining the Functional B cell Response in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer through Vaccination
IRAS ID
262536
Contact name
Alex Richter
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 27 days
Research summary
The aim of the study is to determine the Functional B cell response in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through Vaccination against Pneumococcus i.e. how good is the body at making good quality antibody in response to foreign antigen in the context of NSCLC. As the body ages, so does our immune system and as a consequence it becomes defective and less robust in producing a strong immune response to bacteria, viruses etc. The ageing of the immune system has been linked to a higher incidence of cancer with age.
One of our best tools in the box for assessing immune competence is measuring B cell and antibody response to vaccination. The current literature suggests that there are a significant proportion of cancer patients who die from non-cancer related causes such as infection. Data from our unit showed that lung cancer patients admitted to hospital over the last 2 years, 34% were for respiratory infection and 65% of all in-hospital deaths were due to respiratory infection. Infection appears to be an enormous unmet need and infection prevention is key and vaccination remains a useful tool. By measuring the strength of the B cell and antibody response to vaccination, we will correlate this to disease-specific outcome in NSCLC and also explore trends in mortality and morbidity from pulmonary infection.
The hospital burden of respiratory infection in lung cancer patients is high, but it is also preventable which remains key to reducing morbidity, mortality and costs overall.
REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/WM/0182
Date of REC Opinion
2 Aug 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion