Rapid Medical Donation Programme for Breast Cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Rapid Medical Donation Programme for Breast Cancer to examine tumour heterogeneity.
IRAS ID
129028
Contact name
Peter Barry
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
Although breast cancer (BC) arises in the breast, some cells spread to other sites. They continue to develop and eventually become resistant to further treatment. By replacing normal tissues in their wake, they lead to a person’s untimely death.
Treatment of BC has traditionally been focused on the primary tumour in the breast. Only recently, when cancer returns at other sites, has there been an attempt to understand its altered nature and change treatments accordingly. This approach is limited because accessing such sites (often internal organs like the brain) is difficult, painful and dangerous. Even when biopsy is possible, it only represents a small sample of one of many such deposits.
Even when one deposit responds to a new treatment, a neighbouring one may continue to grow. There is an urgent need to characterise all deposits, particularly the lethal ones which progress despite all treatments.
Studying the tissues and organs of patients who recently died of BC, could revolutionise our understanding and inform effective new treatments.
Similar to organ donation, the removal of tissues needs to be done within hours of the person’s death. There are no such programmes for cancer in the UK or Europe. This would be a first for not only BC but for cancers in general.
We propose such a programme for patients who wish to donate their tissues for scientific study after their death. This would be such a valuable gift to the advancement of breast cancer research and treatment.
These donors could contribute to save future BC sufferers’ lives.
A rapid, respectful, humane and dignified programme carried out by a trained team of medical professionals and scientists working in partnership soon after the patient’s death will be set up and hopefully bring us a step closer to a cure for breast cancer.REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1535
Date of REC Opinion
12 Nov 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion