Use of circulating tumour DNA for genetic tests in brain cancer.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A feasibility study evaluating the use of circulating tumour DNA in genetic tests, as a proxy for brain cancer biopsy samples.
IRAS ID
234143
Contact name
Paul Grundy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Currently, laboratory tests which aid the diagnosis and treatment of brain cancer can only be carried out on highly invasive biopsy samples. Cell-free circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), shed from a solid tumour, can be used to look at cancer mutational characteristics. Here we ask if we are able to extract ctDNA from the plasma of patients with glioma brain cancers and if it can be used in our conventional laboratory tests. This would provide diagnostic information for patients where it is not currently available and/or provide options of less invasive testing. It may also provide the potential for post-treatment monitoring.\n\nPatients eligible for the project would be those diagnosed with glioma at University Hospital Southampton. Glioma comprise about 30% of all brain tumours and central nervous system tumours, and 80% of all malignant brain tumours. The study would be run over a year and patients would require one additional blood sample over that routinely required.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SW/0181
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jul 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion