TransURO

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Translational study of biological samples from patients with urological cancers.

• IRAS ID

  333350

• Contact name

  Simon J Crabb

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Southampton

• Duration of Study in the UK

  10 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  TransURO is a translational research study where the intention is to make scientific discoveries that will help to inform further research which will translate into direct clinical benefit for patients with these cancers.

  Urological cancers involve the urinary tract and include tumours affecting the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate, penis and testicles. Of note, cancers of the bladder and prostate fall within the top 10 most common cancers presenting in the UK with over 10,000 and 50,000 new cases diagnosed each year respectively. There remain unmet clinical needs for patients with these cancers. Despite ongoing improvements in treatment, prognosis for patients with these cancers in the advanced stages remains poor, with <30% patients with advanced prostate cancer and <10% patients with advanced bladder cancer alive at 5 years from diagnosis. An improved understanding of the biological features that predict response to therapy would help to drive future high quality clinical trials and ultimately promote more effective personalised cancer care.

  The primary goal of the TransURO study is to make good use of existing biological samples- blood and tumour tissue- obtained from patients with urological cancers who were previously recruited to ethically approved trials at Southampton Clinical Trials Unit (SCTU), and agreed to the use of their samples for future research. Cancer researchers would be invited to apply for access to stored samples to use for further appropriate research studies. The types of tests conducted on these stored samples would include genetic testing and investigations to better understand the tumour environment. The study could continue for up to 25 years from the time consent was originally taken from the patient.

• REC name

  London - West London & GTAC Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  24/PR/0672

• Date of REC Opinion

  27 Jun 2024

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion