The role of senescence in suppression of hepatocellular carcinoma

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  The role of senescence as a tumour suppressor mechanism in preventing the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

• IRAS ID

  206106

• Contact name

  Matthew Hoare

• Sponsor organisation

  Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  609/M/C/1693, University of Cambridge Insurance section; A094107, CUHNFT R&D

• Duration of Study in the UK

  4 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Chronic liver disease is the fastest growing cause of death in the UK at present. It can lead to the development of cirrhosis and place patients at risk of liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The World Health Organisation estimates that HCC kills around 700,000 people worldwide each year.

  Senescence is a cellular program that develops as humans get older, as seen by grey hair and wrinkled skin. It suppresses the development of cancer, but may impair the function of cells. The liver of subjects with chronic liver disease may have increased numbers of senescent cells.

  This project will investigate whether during the development of chronic liver disease that senescence of liver cells occurs to suppress the development of liver cancer. We aim to use liver samples from subjects with cirrhosis or liver cancer to see whether damaged but not cancerous cells have evidence of senescence, suggesting attempts at suppression of cancer.

  We also want to study the effects of liver cell senescence on other cells within the liver; we want to establish whether it promotes the immune system to play a role in suppressing cancer development.

  We hope in the future to develop therapies that can suppress this huge and growing problem of primary liver cancer.
  

• REC name

  HSC REC A

• REC reference

  16/NI/0196

• Date of REC Opinion

  13 Sep 2016

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion