RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Exploiting the Gut Microbiota and Its Metabolites in Pelvic Cancer

This study explores the 'good' bacteria living in your gut, also known as your gut microbiome, when you have pelvic cancers like bladder, prostate, womb, or bowel cancer. Our guts are full of helpful bacteria that play a big role in our overall health, and we think they might also influence how well cancer treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy work. We want to collect samples of your poo before treatment to look at these bacteria. By comparing the types of bacteria in different people's guts with how well their treatments work, we hope to better understand this link. This knowledge could help us find new ways in the future to support people through cancer treatment, perhaps by suggesting certain probiotics or dietary changes.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University of Aberdeen

Enrolment target

450

Start

01 Mar 2023

Estimated completion

31 May 2029

Pelvic Neoplasm

What is this study about?

Imagine your gut as a bustling city, full of tiny living things, mostly bacteria. These bacteria, known as your gut microbiome, are really important for your health. They help digest food, make vitamins, and even influence your immune system. We're only just starting to understand how much impact they have, and there's a growing idea that they might even affect how well treatments for other diseases, like cancer, work.

In this study, we're focusing on people with cancers in the pelvic area, such as bladder, prostate, womb, cervical, ovarian, or bowel cancer. We believe that the specific types of bacteria living in your gut might play a role in how your body responds to cancer treatments like radiotherapy or chemotherapy. There hasn't been much research on this link before, so we want to explore it in more detail. We hope to find out if certain types of gut bacteria make treatments more effective or help people cope better.

By understanding this better, we might be able to help future patients. For example, if we find that certain 'good' bacteria are helpful during cancer treatment, it could one day lead to providing these bacteria as supplements (like probiotics) or suggesting changes to what you eat to boost these helpful bacteria. This research is a step towards more personalised and supportive care during cancer treatment.

Key takeaways

Exploring gut bacteria's role in pelvic cancer treatment.
Aims to improve future care for cancer patients.
Primarily involves providing poo and blood samples.
Your cancer treatment will not change.
No direct benefit to you, but important for future knowledge.
You can stop participating at any time.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you need to be at least 16 years old and be currently receiving treatment for a pelvic cancer (such as bowel, bladder, prostate, womb, cervical, or ovarian cancer) at NHS Grampian in Scotland. The most important thing is that you are willing and able to understand what the study involves and agree to take part.

If you have a different type of cancer not based in the pelvic area, or if you find it difficult to understand the study details, then this particular study might not be suitable for you.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 16 years old or older?
Are you being treated for a pelvic cancer (like bowel, bladder, prostate, womb, or ovarian cancer) at NHS Grampian?
Are you able to understand the study information and willing to take part?
Do you not have cancer in other parts of your body?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, a research nurse or team member will explain everything in detail and answer any questions you have. If you're happy to go ahead, you'll be asked to sign a consent form when you're next at the hospital for a regular appointment.

Your main contribution will be providing a sample of your poo before you start your cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery). In some cases, if you're having bowel surgery, we might also ask to take a small sample from your bowel during the operation. We will also collect a blood sample from you at some point during your treatment. We will then process these samples to study the bacteria and other substances in them. You won't need to make extra hospital visits just for the study; samples will be collected during your existing appointments or treatment plans. We won't be giving you any new medicines or treatments as part of this study.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study won't change your cancer treatment, and there are no direct benefits to your health right now. However, the information we learn could help improve future care for other people with pelvic cancers. The main 'risk' is the small inconvenience of providing a poo sample and having an extra blood sample taken, which are generally very safe procedures. Remember, you can choose to join or leave the study at any time without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Verified postcode
Aberdeen, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is a 'pelvic cancer'?

Pelvic cancers are those that start in the lower part of your tummy, like bladder, prostate, womb, cervical, ovarian, or bowel cancer.

What is the 'gut microbiota'?

It's the community of trillions of tiny living things, mainly bacteria, that live in your gut. They're often called 'gut bugs' or 'good bacteria'.

Will taking part change my cancer treatment?

No, taking part in this study absolutely will not change your planned cancer treatment. Your doctors will continue to give you the best care for your cancer.

What do you do with the poo samples?

We carefully examine the poo samples to identify the different types of bacteria living in your gut and study what they produce. This helps us see if certain bacteria are linked to how well treatments work.

How long will I be involved in the study?

Your involvement primarily includes providing samples before your treatment starts. There isn't a long-term follow-up required specifically for this research beyond your regular medical appointments.

How to find out more

George Ramsay, FRCS

george.ramsay@abdn.ac.uk 03454566000 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.