PSC FNA Liver Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Analysis of liver infiltrating lymphocytes in primary sclerosing cholangitis by fine needle aspiration of the liver.
IRAS ID
227459
Contact name
Kate Williamson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) is a devastating chronic illness affecting the bile ducts of the liver which can lead to liver failure, malignancy, and death. There is no known medical treatment which can halt progression of the disease. The cause is thought to be immune-mediated. A particular type of immune cells, “lymphocytes”, are felt to play a key role.
We aim to analyse lymphocytes from the liver, looking at key differences between those from patients with PSC, versus those from patients with other liver conditions. To do this, we are conducting a study where we obtain liver lymphocytes from patients using a technique called fine needle aspiration of the liver. In this procedure, a very fine needle is used to aspirate or suck these cells directly from the liver. The procedure carries minimal to no risk, and has been shown to be a safe and well tolerated procedure which yields adequate amounts of lymphocytes upon which to carry out relevant experiments.
We will invite patients with PSC to take part. A control group of patients will also be invited, but only patients who are already scheduled to undergo a liver biopsy as part of their routine clinical care in the NHS – the aspiration procedure will occur at the same time.
We will also aim to confirm the efficacy and safety of fine needle aspiration of the liver as a technique for obtaining and analysing liver lymphocytes in PSC, and analyse changes in liver lymphocytes before and after certain therapies.
We hope that the results from this study will bring us closer to finding an effective therapy, and possibly a cure, for this debilitating disease. The study is being run by the University of Oxford, is being carried out at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, and is funded by the Wellcome Trust.
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0290
Date of REC Opinion
6 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion