The role of Neurotensin in Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating the role of Neurotensin (NT) as a diagnostic marker for colonic polyps and colorectal cancers
IRAS ID
208209
Contact name
Paris Tekkis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
Cancers of the colon and the last part of the large intestine (rectum), or colorectal cancers (CRC) is a worldwide health problem with over 1.2 million people being diagnosed with 600 thousand deaths per year.
Additionally, colonic polyps are found in 30%–40% of people by age 60. They are important as polyps have a 1 in 12 risk of developing into colon cancer over 10 years.
Early diagnosis of polyps and CRC results in successful treatment and better survival.
NT has been found in colorectal cancers and it is thought that some cancers produce it. NT has been shown to increase tumor growth and spread (metastasis). Therefore NT may be linked in the process of colon cancer formation and thus could be potentially used as a tool for diagnosing, or even a target in developing new treatments of colon cancer.
Our team has already conducted a pilot study involving 26 patients where levels of NT in blood, a protein and hormone, was measured. Neurotensin levels were much higher in people with bowel polyps and cancer compared to people who did not. The data suggest it is much more accurate than existing blood tests for bowel cancer.
The two aims of this study is to:
1. Validate the accuracy of blood NT as a test for the diagnosis of colonic polys or CRC in a larger group (150-200) of patients.
2. In individuals with colon polyps or CRC, we also would like to determine whether the levels of NT in blood decreases after the polyp or cancer in the colon or rectum are removed. This is to establish the feasibility of NT blood test as a test in the monitoring of patients after polyp or cancer treatment, in order to detect recurrence of polyps and CRC.REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/SC/0523
Date of REC Opinion
12 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion