IMaC - Immune Pathways in Oesophagogastric Cancer

Oesophageal and stomach cancer cases are unfortunately on the rise in the UK. A major challenge is that these cancers often don't cause noticeable symptoms until they are quite advanced. This means that by the time people experience problems like difficulty swallowing or losing weight and see a doctor, the cancer may be harder to treat effectively. Currently, about 9,300 new cases of oesophageal cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year, and sadly, it has one of the lowest five-year survival rates among all cancers.

Finding these cancers involves an invasive procedure called a gastroscopy, where a camera is used to look inside and take small tissue samples. Unlike some other cancers, there isn't a simple test available to help identify people who might be at higher risk of developing oesophageal or stomach cancer earlier. If we could identify these individuals, they could have more focused health checks, potentially leading to an earlier diagnosis before the disease becomes advanced. This earlier detection could open the door to treatments that are much more likely to be curative.

Scientists have observed that the natural balance of bacteria in the oesophagus and stomach shifts as these cancers begin to develop. Our research team wants to explore if similar changes can be detected in the healthy bacteria found in your mouth. The hope is that if we can identify these mouth-based changes, we could develop a simple, non-invasive screening tool. This tool would help doctors identify people who might be at risk or have early-stage oesophageal or stomach cancer, allowing them to receive timely diagnosis and treatment, and ultimately, improve the chances of a successful outcome.