SMS 2: Study of Somatic Mutations Using Sequencing
Research type
Research Study
Full title
SMS 2: Impact of Cancer therapy on the somatic mutational landscape of Normal tissues
IRAS ID
341204
Contact name
Philip Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Wellcome Sanger Institute
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Disease and tissue aging are thought to be influenced by genetic changes, or mutations, acquired throughout life. These mutations provide clues regarding the genetic damage that occurred through the lifetime of the patient, and include mutations caused by environmental factors such as ultraviolet light from sunlight or tobacco smoke affecting the skin or internal tissues, respectively. Other mutations may occur due to errors in copying the genome as cells divide. Once a cell has acquired a mutation, the cell’s daughters may inherit it. Eventually clusters of cells carrying the same mutation may form within tissues. If the mutations alter cell behaviour this may impact how cells behave and influence how a whole tissue functions.
Recently technology has been developed at the Wellcome Sanger Insitute to allow clusters of cells with mutations to be detected in normal and diseased tissues. We wish to determine how the number and nature of these mutant cell clusters change in response to treatments given to cancer patients (such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and drugs targeted at specific mutations in tumours). As such we wish to collect research samples of blood, cheek cells (via swabs) and urine from adult cancer patients receiving the above-mentioned treatments as part of their standard care. We also wish to access any leftover tissue following surgery that is undertaken as part of these patient's treatment.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/EE/0097
Date of REC Opinion
8 May 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion