WCTU Translational Working Group
1. What is the aim of translational research?
“Translational research transforms scientific discoveries arising from laboratory, clinical,
or population studies into clinical applications to reduce cancer incidence, morbidity and
mortality”. National Cancer Research Institute Translational Working Group
2. Collection of samples for translational research at the WCTU.
The WCTU aims to maximize the potential for translational research by, where possible
collecting biospecimens and clinical data from all of the clinical trials coordinated by the
WCTU. These samples will be banked to build up a resource that will be used by research
groups to help to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in cancer and work towards the
development of more effective, better targeted cancer therapies.
Trial
(Tumour type) Target No. of donors
(Target No. and type of samples) Collection status.
Updated: October 2009
T-SCOPE
(Oesophageal) 420
(420 baseline and 420 post-treatment tissue and bloods) Blood
samples have been collected from 77 out of 79 patients recruited. There has been a slight
delay in obtaining some of the paraffin blocks, but we expect to have a similar success
rate.
ZICE Bone Markers
(Breast) 100
(100 baseline and 200 post-treatment bloods) 89 patients provided at
least one blood sample and 16 have provided complete sets of samples.
T-FRAG
(Lung) 2200
(2200 baseline and 2200 post treatment bloods, plus tissue from all surgical patients)
Minor delay in opening approved T-FRAG centres due to separate collection
protocol, but 20% of our FRAGMATIC centres are now open and more than 50% have submitted an
expression of interest form and sample collections are now underway.
T-SUCCINCT
(Bladder) 63
(63 baseline tissue samples plus 63 baseline and 63 post-treatment bloods) Having opened to recruitment in July 2009 SUCCINCT already has its first
donor!
T-VIN
(Vulval) 204
(204 baseline and 408 post-treatment tissue and bloods) Scheduled to
open to recruitment October 2009
T-SCALOP
(Pancreatic) 76
(330:102 baseline bloods and 228 post-treatment bloods) Opened to
recruitment in August 2009 awaiting recruitment of the first patient.
3. The Translational Working Group (TWG).
The WCTU TWG, established in February 2007, is chaired by Professor Tim Maughan (clinical)
with Professor Paul Smith as co-chair (scientific). The group consists of expert scientists,
statisticians and clinicians interested in translational research and cancer therapies. The
aims of the TWG are to:
- Review applications from researchers to access WCTU trial samples for translational
research.
- Produce guidelines for the control of translational data and the release of linked
clinical trial data.
- Provide advice on operational, scientific and statistical issues relating to
translational research.
- Develop new researchers and increase the awareness of translational research and trials
with translational potential among the scientific community.
- Provide opportunities’ for clinical evaluation of new prognostic biomarkers.
The TWG is organized by Dr Tracie Madden and Dr Lisette Nixon and current members include:
- Professor Tim Maughan (Clinical Director of WCTU)
- Professor Paul Smith, Professor Jeremy Cheadle
- Professor Wenguo Jiang
- Dr Robert Hills
- Mr Gareth Griffiths
- Professor Malcolm Mason
- Dr Alison Parry-Jones
- Professor Gerry Thomas
- Professor Geraint Williams
- Dr Tracie Madden
- Dr Lisette Nixon.
Experts interested in joining the group should contact Dr Tracie Madden or Dr Lisette
Nixon.
Potentially useful links:
- www.ncri.org.uk
- www.hta.gov.uk
- www.tissuebank.dundee.ac.uk
- sigs.nih.gov/biospecimens
- www.tubafrost.org
- www.batb.org.uk
- www.crw.org.uk
- www.ukbiobank.ac.uk
- www.cancer.gov
- www.bristol.ac.uk/sartre