Can microbiome data improve the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
PhD project: Investigating the potential of the microbiome to improve the existing NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (NHSBCSP).
IRAS ID
188007
Contact name
Philip Quirke
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The microbiome is the term used to describe the micro-organisms that live on and in the body. Most of these micro-organisms are bacteria within the bowel. Studies show that people with bowel polyps or bowel cancer have different microbiome signatures to people with normal bowels and that the microbiome might therefore be used to screen for bowel cancer.
The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (NHSBCSP) screens for blood in the stool of people using the gFOBT (guaiac Faecal Occult Blood Test). If blood is detected in the stool, a colonoscopy (camera test) is offered to look for polyps or bowel cancer.
The gFOBT misses 40-90% of bowel cancers and overcalls bowel polyps or cancer in 50 %. This PhD will study the microbiome from stool on gFOBT cards to see if this can improve the sensitivity and specificity of the current NHSBCSP.
gFOBT cards will be processed as usual by the Southern NHSBCSP hub. At the point at which they would usually be disposed of, they will be link-anonymised and transported to Leeds. They will be stored securely on HTA licensed premises (Wellcome Trust Brenner Building, Leeds). Colonoscopy results will be obtained by the Data Analyst at the NHSBCSP Southern Hub and passed to the Leeds research team in link anonymised form. The microbiome of stool on 1000 gFOBT cards will be analysed.
No participant will be contacted, all information will be link anonymised, no human DNA will be analysed and the research will not interfere with the usual running of the NHSBCSP.
The study will last 3 years.
The study has been approved by the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) Research Committee.
REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NE/0210
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion