Renal Cancer

ARTIST

ARTIST: A translational research Approach to development of optimal Renal cancer Treatments In Surgical and systemic Therapy patients

Kidney cancer is one of the commonest 10 cancers in the UK (Cancer Research UK data, 2015). Recent work from our group has shown that the initiating event in kidney cancer may occur as early as in teenage years but little information has been collected about the period between this initiating event and the development of a tumour. Our work suggests that it may be possible to develop tests to detect kidney cancer earlier than is currently possible.

This study aims to identify markers (known as ‘biomarkers’) in the blood, urine, stool, tissue, or on scans that could help identify kidney cancer earlier and allow better treatment and improved survival.

We use advanced analysis techniques to study samples, scans and data from patients at CUHFT.  The study includes a range of patients, from those who do not have kidney cancer, to those with advanced tumours, so that we can compare results across a wide variety of samples.

With a better understanding of kidney cancer, we hope our study will directly impact patient care by improving diagnosis, guiding prognosis, and predicting drug effectiveness for future medical interventions.

We plan to recruit up to 1500 patients over a 10-year period.

WIRE

The WIndow-of-opportunity clinical trial is a platform for evaluation of novel treatment strategies in REnal cell cancer.  There is a window of opportunity for patients with kidney cancer due to the 1 month waiting period from diagnosis to surgery (standard of care).

Phase I of the trial involves combinatorial therapy in clear cell Renal Carcinoma (ccRCC) (VEGF, DDRI, IO,…) Biological rational for drug combinations due to RCC biology and the suggested role of DDR inhibitors.

• Olaparib & Cediranib
• PARPi & IO

The aim is to establish a “Proof of mechanism” defined by biological evidence of agent(s) engaging the predicted cellular pathway, by meeting 2 of the following criteria:

• reduced tumour permeability
• reduced tumour proliferation
• increased apoptosis
• inhibition of relevant pathway defined for each treatment arm

Clinical trial registration

The Wire Patient Pathway:

The WIRE Chief Investigator is Professor Grant Stewart.

Grant’s research is focussed on the key clinical questions in initially localised RCC, namely: early detection/screening, early diagnosis approaches, optimal follow-up strategies, neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies.