Mitochondria in Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma (Mito-OAC)

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Generation of Patient Derived Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma Organoids to investigate how mitochondrial DNA mutations affect cancer cell biology and response to treatment.

  • IRAS ID

    337489

  • Contact name

    Laura Greaves

  • Contact email

    laura.greaves@newcastle.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Newcastle University

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    N/A, N/A

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 6 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    Oesopahgeal adenocarcinoma (OAC) remains a major contributors of cancer deaths in the UK and worldwide. Despite vast improvements in care over the last 30 years, 5-year survival is just around 15%. Current treatment is a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, alongside surgical or endoscopic removal of the tumour.

    Recent work in colon cancer have demonstrated the important role mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations play in the development of cancer. Mitochondria are crucial organelles within cells that provide energy and building blocks that allow for cell growth.

    This study seeks to build upon previous knowledge to develop understanding of what role mtDNA mutations play in OAC. As part of this, we plan to develop patient derived organoids (PDOs) of OAC. PDOs are 3D cell clusters grown in laboratories from patient cancer tissue, these have been shown to reflect the genetic and behavioural characteristics of its parent cancer, therefore they are valuable laboratory tools in understanding cancer biology. Through the study of OAC PDOs, we aim to understand the range of mtDNA mutations that exists within OAC, how this alters the metabolism of the cell, if this offer metabolic advantages to cancer development and importantly whether these altered metabolic pathways results in different responses to treatments.

    Patient who are already undergoing surgical removal of their oesphageal adenocarcinoma as part of their treatment will be eligible for this study. This study will not alter their routine treatment, however will take a small sample from their removed cancer for development into organoids. This study will be carried out over a 1-year period, with patients from Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, laboratory work will be done at Newcastle University Medical School. This study will be funded by CRUK Clinical Academic Fellowship programme.

  • REC name

    Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    24/YH/0124

  • Date of REC Opinion

    4 Jun 2024

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion