DONATE-GI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development of Organoids from Lethal Metastases- Gastrointestinal Tract
IRAS ID
233668
Contact name
Nicola Valeri
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Although gastro-intestinal (GI) cancers arise from the gullet, stomach, bowel or associated organs such as the pancreas, liver or gallbladder, the cancer cells commonly spread to other sites. They continue to develop and eventually become resistant to further treatment. By replacing normal tissues in their wake, they lead to a person’s untimely death.
Treatment of GI cancers has traditionally been hampered by late discovery as symptoms are minimal in the early stages. When the cancer is too advanced for surgery or returns at other sites, there is a need to understand its altered nature to guide treatment. This requires sampling by repeated biopsy which can be difficult, painful and dangerous. Even when biopsy is possible, it only represents a small sample of one of many likely deposits.
Even when one deposit responds to a new treatment, a neighbouring one may continue to grow. There is an urgent need to characterise all deposits, particularly the lethal ones which progress despite all treatments.
Studying the tissues and organs of patients who have recently died of GI cancers, could revolutionise our understanding and inform effective new treatments.
Similar to organ donation, the removal of tissues needs to be done within hours of the person’s death. There are few such programmes for cancer in the UK or Europe.We propose such a programme at The Royal Marsden Hospital for patients who wish to donate their tissues for scientific study after their death. This would be such a valuable gift to the advancement of GI cancer research and treatment. These donors could save lives of future cancer sufferers.
Using special techniques, the cancer tissue will be grown in the laboratory to generate 3-dimensional structures called organoids. Organoids have features similar to the cancer tissue and along with the tissue donated will be studied in the laboratory, including why they are resistant to treatment. This will help enable greater understanding and development of new treatments.
A rapid, respectful, humane and dignified programme carried out by an experienced, trained team of medical professionals and scientists working in partnership soon after the patient’s death will hopefully bring us a step closer to a cure for such cancer.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0072
Date of REC Opinion
15 Feb 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion