Using Brain Tissue to Develop a Model of Brain Tumour Pathology
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Using Brain Tissue to Develop a Model of Brain Tumour Pathology, Identify Biomarkers and Evaluate Therapy
IRAS ID
233896
Contact name
Ryan Mathew
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 10 months, 19 days
Research summary
This project aims to model the development of brain tumours, identify biomarkers and test the feasibility of novel interventions that will support early diagnosis and more effective treatment of people with brain tumours.
The use of brain tissue and others samples such as blood underpin medical research. Such samples are very important, for example in understanding more about disease processes, generation of new tests to help in diagnosis, prognosis or treatment selection, and in the development of new therapies. This is especially true in the context of “personalised” medicine. There are obviously major benefits from such research including improvements in outcomes, increased patient safety and more efficient, cost-effective and evidence-based use of NHS resources.
Brain tumours account for around 3% of all new tumours diagnosed in the United Kingdom (UK), with over 10,500 new cases per year. (1) The prognosis for patients living with the most malignant forms of brain tumour (glioma and metasases) has not improved over the last two decades. (1) For example, patients with glioma and metastases have 2 year survival rate of only 30% and 6.9%, respectively. Improving outcomes for people diagnosed with a brain tumour have generally focused on a search to identify novel therapeutic agents, or on surgical techniques and adjuncts. Whilst these are undoubtedly important areas of research, other stages in the natural history of tumour development and clinical presentation have received less attention as important research areas and targets of intervention. For at least some patients, bringing forward the date of tumour diagnosis will improve prognosis, because the tumour is smaller and more amenable to complete surgical resection. Prognosis is linked to the extent of surgical resection of glioma (2–4, 5), therefore earlier diagnosis will improve survival, as well as reducing morbidity and enhancing quality of life (QoL).
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EM/0159
Date of REC Opinion
21 Aug 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion