Characterising the Lymph Node Microenvironment V1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Characterisation of the Lymph Node Microenvironment in Blood Cancers Compared to Healthy Controls
IRAS ID
84062
Contact name
Piers Patten
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College Hospital NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
In some blood cancers, like lymphoma, the cancerous cells grow within enlarged lymph nodes. Within these lymph nodes there are other normal cells which appear to help the cancer cells to grow when they should be trying to kill them. Diseased lymph nodes are often very large and cells can be withdrawn from them by a technique called fine needle aspiration. In previous work, on a blood cancer called chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, we have found profound abnormalities in the apparently non cancerous cells of patients lymph nodes compared to similar cells found in the peripheral blood. In this current study we aim to extend this work to studying other lymphoid blood cancers. We plan to obtain cells for research by fine needle aspiration and by using surplus material from diagnostic biopsies. Additionally we plan to compare individuals with cancer to healthy individuals. Normal lymph nodes are too small to be accessed by fine needle aspiration and they can only be obtained by surgically removing them, such as during an operation. In this study we propose to obtain surplus cells from lymph node biopsy samples which are removed during a clinically directed operation and compare them with cancerous lymph nodes. We also wish to compare the blood from these healthy people to those patients with blood cancers. The blood will be taken at time of routine sampling. We then propose to investigate the type and function of cells from blood and lymph nodes in the laboratory. We will perform tests to inform us about the cells specific type, function and origin. Comparing and understanding the differences in cells found in health and cancer could help us better understand the cause of the disease and help identify future therapeutic targets.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
13/NS/0039
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion