Biomolecular analysis of prostate cancer tissue
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identification of genetic changes in prostate cancer and evaluation of the degree of intratumoural heterogeneity in prostate tumours
IRAS ID
126443
Contact name
Magali Williamson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Research summary
The purpose of this study is to identify genetic changes that occur in late stage prostate cancer. Tumour tissue removed from prostate cancer patients during the procedure of therapeutic channel transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)in patients with recurrent prostate cancer following anti-androgen treatment will be used. Obtaining this material does not require any additional surgical procedures above those carried out for the therapy of the patient. The fresh frozen tissue will be analysed by whole exome next generation deep DNA sequencing, a new highly sensitive method of DNA sequencing which will detect genetic changes in small subclones of cells. Matched blood samples will be sequenced in parallel to identify which genetic changes are tumour-specific. RNA extracted from the tissue will be analysed for gene expression. This study will identify new targets for therapy against lethal prostate cancer and will discover novel biomarkers for monitoring disease progression. The study will also increase our understanding of the clonal evolution of late stage prostate cancer and will provide an estimate of the extent of intratumoural heterogeneity in this disease. Individualised approaches to cancer treatment, where cancers are treated according to the genetic changes identified in each cancer, will require routine genetic typing of each tumour. Evaluation of the extent of intratumoural heterogeneity in prostate cancer is required before the feasibility of this approach can be assessed.
REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1250
Date of REC Opinion
1 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion