Study of tissues from women at high risk of gynaecological cancers
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The immunoprofile of gynaecological tissues from women at high risk of developing gynaecological cancers.
IRAS ID
150289
Contact name
Frances Balkwill
Contact email
Research summary
Women with a strong family history of ovarian or endometrial (womb) cancer are at greater risk of developing these specific cancers themselves. Some of these women will have germline mutations (they have been born with a faulty gene) in genes such as BRCA1 or MSH2 that are known to confer greater risk of cancer development. Women with BRCA1 mutations have a 40 - 60% increased risk of developing ovarian cancer and women with Lynch syndrome (MSH2/MLH1 mutation) have a 10 - 15% increased risk of developing ovarian cancer and a 40-60% increased risk of developing endometrial (womb) cancer. It is not known why these genetic changes predispose to cancer. Gynaecological tumours that develop in all women are made up of a large number of immune/inflammatory cells that may drive tumour initiation and growth. Our study will examine the types of immune cells in gynaecological tissues from women at high risk that have yet to develop cancer. We will compare these with benign tissue from women who do not carry genetic mutations and do not have a strong family history of cancer. We want to find out if there is a different profile of inflammatory cells in high risk women and whether this infiltrate plays a role in gynaecological tumour initiation. \n
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/WM/0105
Date of REC Opinion
18 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion