Microbiome as diagnostic and predictive screening tool in CRC
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Combined oral and faecal microbiome as a diagnostic and predictive screening tool for colorectal cancer OF-CRC
IRAS ID
253135
Contact name
Campbell Roxburgh
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
4D Pharma Plc
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the world, with 774,000 deaths reported in 2015 (WHO,2018). The global burden of the disease is expected to increase by 60% to over 2.2 million new cases and 1.1 million deaths by 2030. Approximately one in three people diagnosed with CRC die of the disease in the five years after diagnosis. The most effective way to reduce mortality is to detect precancerous polyps in an early stage. Colonoscopy is the most effective screening modality. However, this is invasive and costly. Current non-invasive screening approaches for colon cancer such as the faecal immune test (FIT) and faecal occult blood test (FOBT) have very low sensitivity for detecting early cell changes, and more reliable biomarkers are needed. Recent research has shown that people with either polyps or colorectal cancer harbour different gut microbiota (bacteria in the gut) than healthy people.
The study plan to investigate the predictive value of oral microbiota and faecal microbiota to diagnose colorectal cancer in comparison with a colonoscopy. A classification model based on oral and faecal microbiota will be able to
distinguished individuals with colorectal cancer or polyps from healthy controls.REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/2090
Date of REC Opinion
21 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion