The impact of psychological stress on ovarian cancer recurrence
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Measuring the impact of psychological stress on tumour behaviour in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer and generating organoids and ex vivo tissue explants to develop pre-clinical models.
IRAS ID
302647
Contact name
Melanie S Flint
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Brighton
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
The overarching hypothesis of this proposal is to determine the role of psychological stress, through release of the stress hormone cortisol, on tumour spread and recurrence following treatment and to investigate the molecular mechanisms through which this phenomenon occurs. We hypothesize that stress hormones have a two pronged attack by inducing proliferation and invasion directly on cancer immune cell co-cultures, manifesting in increased metastasis and suppressing the immune system. Successful completion of this hypothesis would then provide an avenue to set up a clinical trial to test the effects of high cortisol levels on accelerating recurrence. To test this hypothesis, we have assembled a strong scientific team with unique expertise in surgery, oncology translational cancer research and molecular profiling. The hypothesis will be tested in a 3D spheroid model (Aim 1) and a patient cohort (Aim 2).
Patients with stage 3 or 4 high grade serous ovarian cancer receiving neodjuvant therapy will be included in the study to determine a) how patient reported stress and cortisol levels vary through treatment and for three years following diagnosis b) correlate these stress changes with tumour behaviour and response to treatment in organoids isolated from patients mid-way through chemotherapy. The aim is to determine if patients with higher cortisol levels and reported stress measures have a more aggressive disease behaviour. The ultimate goal is to explore if patients with high stress levels experience an earlier disease recurrence. The findings from the research proposed here will allow us to determine if biochemical responses that occur during psychological stress have consequences on tumour recurrence.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/EE/0069
Date of REC Opinion
13 May 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion