IMaC study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of Immune and Microbiome disruption as drivers of mutagenesis in Oesophagogastric Cancer
IRAS ID
323806
Contact name
Sacheen Kumar
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Clinical R&D Department, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Oesophagogastric cancer (OGc) is a disease of significant unmet clinical need. The initial presenting symptoms are non-specific, and by the time patients develop 'red-flag' signs such as difficulty swallowing and weight loss, the disease is advanced. As such, less than 40% of patients are eligible for curative treatment at diagnosis. Early diagnosis, achieved through screening is crucial in improving long-term survival in OGc. However, there currently lacks a non-invasive test to identify patients on a large scale who are at risk of developing OGc.
A growing body of scientific evidence supports the role of healthy gut bacteria (the microbiome) in the development of OGc. Previous research has identified that there is a change in the bacteria present within the oesophagus and stomach as cancers develop. Furthermore, pre-malignant conditions such as Barrett's Oesophagus also have a distinct bacterial profile, which differs to that of healthy patients. There is an interaction between the healthy bacteria, the mucus lining the oesophagus and stomach and the immune system which is implicated in the development of OGc.
This research study seeks to investigate this interaction through the use of samples representative of the upper digestive tract, which include saliva, cheek swabs, tissue biopsies of the oesophagus and stomach, and mucus from the oesophagus and stomach. The long-term goal of this work is to develop a non-invasive screening test which can be used in the early diagnosis of OGc and thereby improve chances of cure for patients.REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/0816
Date of REC Opinion
12 Sep 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion