The MyoScreen Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The MyoScreen Study - Investigating the Utility of Liquid Biopsy as a Method of Early Detection of Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy-Associated Cancer
IRAS ID
317539
Contact name
Alexander Oldroyd
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NA, NA
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) is a chronic multisystem autoimmune condition predominantly manifesting with muscle inflammation (myositis). One in four adults with IIM are diagnosed with cancer (multiple organs) within three years either side of IIM onset and outcomes are poor (17% remission rate).
“Liquid biopsy” is a method that allows detection of DNA released from cancer tumours in simple blood samples - this is termed “circulating tumour DNA” (ctDNA).
The MyoScreen study aims to carry out preliminary investigation into the utility of liquid biopsy as a method of early cancer detection in 30 newly diagnosed IIM patients.
Adults aged 50 years or older with newly diagnosed IIM with one or more IIM-specific cancer risk factors will be recruited. The recruitment period will last for one year.
Participants will undergo conventional cancer screening at the time of IIM diagnosis. Blood samples will be collected at the time of IIM diagnosis in all participants. Repeated blood samples will be taken after six months in participants where cancer was not detected by conventional screening.
Recruitment and blood sample collection will be carried out at participating NHS sites.
ctDNA will be tested for in all collected blood samples at the Manchester Cancer Research Centre.
Potential benefits include: 1) providing preliminary evidence for future grant applications, 2) demonstrating the utility of liquid biopsy as a method of early IIM-associated cancer detection, 3) improved survival due to earlier IIM-associated cancer diagnosis.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 1
REC reference
23/WS/0024
Date of REC Opinion
15 Mar 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion