An Investigation into the Molecular Pathogenesis of Pleural Disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An Investigation into the Molecular Pathogenesis of pleural disease
IRAS ID
261922
Contact name
Anna McIver
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHSH Research Development & Innovation Department
Duration of Study in the UK
7 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
A pleural effusion is an excess of fluid that can accumulate in the space between the two linings of the lung. There are many causes of pleural effusions, ranging to benign conditions to other significant causes such as different types of cancer. A high proportion (42-77%) of patients presenting with a one sided (unilateral) pleural effusion will have an underlying cancer. While examination of the pleural fluid gives us a diagnosis in about 60% of these patients, the remainder will need to undergo further tests which are more invasive and associated with higher risk.
This ethics applications seeks to cover the acquisition of fluid samples from the lung lining (pleural fluid) identified by the hospitals respiratory department.
These samples will be analysed to evaluate the clinical utility of new biomarkers in these samples to help predict cancer in patient with pleural effusions. It will also look at whether different types of effusions can have a direct effect on the disease process itself or whether pleural fluid in cancer patients reduces the efficacy of chemotherapy.
Our group will be working towards assessing the use of different types of analysis on pleural fluid with the hope that we may identify new tests that might help predict cancerous causes of pleural effusions earlier and hence allow patients a diagnosis without having to undergo more invasive and higher risk tests.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
23/NI/0071
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jun 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion