Genetic analysis of oesophageal and head and neck cancers (version 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Genetic analysis of oesophageal and head and neck squamous cell cancers for improved diagnosis, monitoring and treatment
IRAS ID
137114
Contact name
Christopher G Mathew
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Research summary
The study is based on the premise that acquired (somatic) mutations are important contributors to the development of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the upper aerodigestive tract (head, neck and oesophagus), and that tumour-derived mutations will be detectable in readily accessible human samples from cancer patients such as plasma and saliva. The identification of common somatic mutation profiles in these tumours could provide a powerful tool for patient stratification in relation to the clinical course of the cancers and their therapeutic response, and thus influence clinical decision-making. The ability to detect tumour-derived mutations in easily accessible and minimally invasive samples would have major implications for monitoring response to therapy and relapse, and potentially for screening high risk individuals.
The first phase of the project is a study of upper aerodigestive SCC which will involve:
(i) A comprehensive screen for somatic mutations by deep sequencing of the coding regions of all known genes (exomes) in matched blood/tumour DNA samples;
(ii) Development of diagnostic sequencing assays to detect tumour-derived somatic mutations in plasma and saliva DNA.
If this study is successful in identifying somatic mutations in cancer genes, and in detecting these in matching plasma or saliva DNA, the results will be used to support an application for funding of a large prospective study which will evaluate the use of deep sequencing in the clinical management of these patients.
We therefore plan to continue prospective collection of samples from patients with upper aerodigestive cancers for the next 5 years.REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0300
Date of REC Opinion
26 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion