Breast Lesions Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identification of biomarkers of progression of early breast lesions in humans.
IRAS ID
291595
Contact name
Vijay Sharma
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Currently, 1:12 women contract breast cancer. If the primary tumour is completely excised and there are no metastases detected, the patient has an excellent prognosis. If metastatic disease can be prevented, then the life-threatening aspect of breast cancer is removed.
Recent research has shown that metastasis-inducing proteins (MIPs) are proteins, which can be used to predict patients, who are most likely to develop metastatic disease. With this knowledge, treatment could be targeted to those patients with an increased risk of metastatic spread.
The MIPs include S100A4, S100P, osteopontin and AGR2. MIPs are not expressed in epithelial cells, in normal breast, or in benign tumours; however, they are expressed by breast cancers. It is believed that the presence of MIPs in premalignant lesions may represent precursors of more aggressive types of breast cancer. This research will examine breast tissue, from women taken from the screening population, that contain ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and/or atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH). Through immunohistochemical techniques, the expression of the MIPs will be examined in DCIS, ADH and normal benign ducts. This will allow a comparison of precursor lesions and surrounding normal breast tissue through the use of conventional microscopy and digital pathology. We will also, as part of this research, test additional candidate biomarkers of progression of these early lesions. This research will establish whether these biomarkers can be used to stratify patients for treatment, and also identify new therapeutic targets for the treatment of DCIS.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/NW/0076
Date of REC Opinion
30 Mar 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion