Summary
Title of Project
Sample Collection Study to Investigate Exosomal Adipocytes Signalling in Lean and Obese Men with Prostate Cancer
Introduction
We are the Prostate Cancer Research Group located at the Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine at Hammersmith Hospital. Our group is headed by Charlotte Bevan, Professor of Cancer Biology at Imperial College London. We are working in collaboration with Mr Mathias Winkler and Professor Hashim Ahmed, Consultant Urological Surgeons at Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
This study is being funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Imperial College London.
We are currently inviting patients undergoing either a prostate biopsy for suspected prostate cancer or radical prostatectomy for confirmed prostate cancer, as part of their routine NHS treatment, to take part in a research study that will enable us to investigate the interaction between tumours and their microenvironment in order to better understand why some patients have more aggressive prostate cancer than others. We will examine specific areas that regulate communication within prostate cancer, normal prostate cells and the surrounding fat. This is being undertaken as part of a PhD/MD programme.
Before deciding to take part, it is important for patients to understand what it will involve for them. Anyone considering involvement in this project should read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if they wish. Members of the team will be available to answer patients’ questions and provide further information if it is required.
Tissue Sampling and Personal Information
During either the prostate biopsy or radical prostatectomy, we will collect samples of blood, urine, normal prostate tissue and fat tissue samples, using the pre-operative MRI scan to identify areas of interest; these will be in addition to the NHS tests routinely carried out on samples taken during biopsy or surgery. This additional sample taking will not affect the normal progress of the biopsy or operation and patients will receive the normal NHS operative and post operative care.
Additionally, it will be necessary to collect personal information and family history by means of a patient questionnaire and a review of medical notes, including the outcome of the hospital’s pathology reports following the procedure or operation.
All samples taken will be stored for future research. We will study the DNA and RNA within the samples as well as secretions from the prostate cancer cells and fat cells. For us to test the samples, we may need to send DNA or RNA to specialist companies or collaborating laboratories abroad for specialist testing which cannot be performed at our own laboratory.
Confidentiality of Information
Our information collection and storage processes conform to the highest standards established under the European Union wide General Data Protection Regulations and have been reviewed and approved by the Imperial Joint Research Compliance Office, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Research and Development Office and National NHS Research and Ethics Committee. The collection and storage of the data will be subject to the prior consent of each patient.
Medical records will be reviewed by the Urology team at Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust. Information collected will be assigned a sample number so that patients will be anonymous to researchers at Imperial College London.
We will transport tissue samples from Charing Cross Hospital directly to the laboratory in Hammersmith Hospital. The register of samples, questionnaires and consent forms will be kept securely in a locked office at Charing Cross Hospital.
We would like to thank Mr Keith Bailey, EXOPRO patient and public involvement representative who contributed to the development of this page and website.
Study references and licenses: IRAS 262452, JRCO 19HH5065, NHS REC 19/LO/0754
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04167722
Pathology reference number: QN862