Microbiome Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Gut Microbiome in Children with Leukaemia study 'The Big Poo Project'
IRAS ID
306516
Contact name
Caroline Furness
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Exposure to microbes in the first year of life leads to the natural colonization of our intestines by a complex mixture of bacterial and other microbial species known as the microbiome. Our study aims to examine the impact of the microbiome on the development of leukaemia in children. Prior work by the study investigators has provided evidence that one of the most common types of leukaemia (B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia) may develop in a multi-step fashion but that an overactive response of the body's immune system to common infections may contribute. The study aims to look at similarities and differences in the microbiome of children with leukaemia compared to healthy children who do not have leukaemia. The study aims to look at differences between different subtypes of leukaemia (B-cell ALL and other types). Children aged 1 - 14 years treated for leukaemia by the team at the Royal Marsden Hospital will be eligible for the study which will involve collection of a single stool sample for microbiome analysis prior to starting chemotherapy and collection of some information about environmental factors that may influence individual microbiomes such as antibiotic exposure and breastfeeding. There are no drugs or interventions in the study and we expect that the study will last for 2 years initially. Control stool samples will be taken from healthy volunteer children identified via parent staff at the Royal Marsden Hospital and The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) where the stool microbiome analysis will take place. The study is important as if we identify differences in the microbiome in specific subtypes of leukaemia this may provide us with information about risk factors for leukaemia development and ultimately identify ways in which leukaemia development could be prevented in future. The work is funded by CRUK and ICR/RM charity grants.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0638
Date of REC Opinion
26 Sep 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion