Prognostic biomarkers in bladder cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identification of prognostic biomarkers in bladder cancer
IRAS ID
129459
Contact name
Margaret Knowles
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Research summary
Our studies over the past two decades have identified many genes that show either altered levels of expression or mutation in bladder cancer tissues. These alterations collectively determine tumour behaviour. Thus assessment of these “biomarkers“ may provide useful information about likely clinical outcome or suggest suitable types of therapy. To assess which biomarkers have such uses requires a study in tissues taken from patients for whom complete clinical follow-up data is available. For this purpose we previously studied a single biomarker (FGFR3) in tissues from all patients for whom suitable tissues were available who were diagnosed with bladder cancer in Leeds in a single year (1998). Such a patient cohort provides tumours of all clinical grades and stages. We now plan to extend the study to assess a panel of additional biomarkers in relation to FGFR3. Sections of tumour tissues taken from diagnostic paraffin blocks will be stained to detect the presence of specific proteins. Some tissue sections will be used to extract DNA to allow detection of mutations. Results will be related to data already collected on outcome and will also provide frequencies of specific mutations to allow estimation of the number of bladder cancer patients who might benefit from novel targeted therapies.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EM/1019
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion