Transcripts in Nasal Angiofibroma (TiNA study)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Is reactivation of FGF8 expression in dormant embryonic cells responsible for juvenile nasal angiofibroma?
IRAS ID
145164
Contact name
Pablo Martinez-Devesa
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
Research summary
Juvenile nasal angiofibroma is a rare growth at the back of the nose that arises only in teenage boys. It causes destruction of the skull. At present the only treatment is surgery, which often involves extensive surgery to the head and face. The cause of this tumour is unknown.
We want to explore a new idea that this growth might occur because cells from when we are an embryo accidentally get left behind in the back of the nose. These cells may then secrete a molecule called fgf8 which leads to the growth of this tumour. fgf8 is interesting because the secretion of this molecule is stimulated by testosterone, which would fit with this tumour appearing in teenage boys.
We will first stain old samples of this tumour (archived pre-2006 material) for fgf8 and molecules (receptors) that fgf8 binds to. We will repeat this staining in newly collected samples from six boys having this tumour removed, and compare this to samples of nearby normal lining of the nose. We will also look in these samples at the fgf8 gene, and see if this gene is expressed (present) in these tissues, as well as other genes that fgf8 controls, and a number of other genes that control growth.
If we do find fgf8 is responsible for the growth of this tumour we hope in the future to be able to use new medicines against fgf8, to make this tumour shrink, and so reduce the extent of surgery for this disease.The study is funded through a grant from the Oxfordshire Health Services Research Committee, and will take place at a single site , the John Radcliffe Hospital. Assuming four new diagnoses per year, we aim to complete the study in 18-24 months.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/1051
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion