RESEARCHERS from two universities will use a £300,000 grant from Ochre to study OSCC, a subtype of oesophageal cancer.
The University of Dundee and Queen’s University Belfast will use the funding awarded by the Scotland-based cancer charity to focus on causes and treatments.
This type of cancer has been named the ‘forgotten cancer’ in the UK as it was overtaken by the now most common type of oesophageal cancer – oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
However, OSCC disproportionately affects socially deprived communities, with some of the highest local rates worldwide found in parts of Scotland.
3,200 OSCC cases are diagnosed in the UK per year, representing one-third of all oesophageal cancer cases worldwide, with no more than 15% of patients surviving beyond 5 years.
Professor Russell Petty, clinical professor and co-principal investigator at the University of Dundee, said: “The major unmet healthcare need for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients is exacerbated by the lack of research, and OCHRE ACORN will help address this.
“A key part of ACORN will be to generate new tumour organoid models from patients’ tissue.
“This will allow us to study the disease in our laboratory in Dundee in much greater depth and in a way that is much more relevant to our patients’ needs.
“I am optimistic that new, more effective treatment will result from this work and that establishing it will create new tools for researchers now and in the future to accelerate progress.”
Dr Dan Middleton, Lecturer and Co-Principal Investigator of ACORN from the Centre for Public Health at Queen’s University Belfast, said, “While we know OSCC is largely caused by alcohol and tobacco in the UK.
“Our research aims to pilot a new self-assessment tool in patients and healthy individuals to investigate these and other risk factors in a less burdensome manner to participants and clinical teams.”
The funding will also support the next generation of OSCC researchers by creating a new fully funded PhD Studentship to work on the project.
Allan Lapsley, Chair of Ochre, said, “We are delighted to support this research, which aims to improve our understanding of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
“For too long, oesophageal cancer has been one of the less survivable cancers, particularly in Scotland.
“With late diagnosis, limited treatment options and poor outcomes contributing to lives lost and families left devastated.
“Less survivable cancers suffer from a lack of investment in research, and thanks to the wonderful people who raise funds and support Ochre from across the UK and beyond, we have an opportunity to improve outcomes and create a better future for oesophageal cancer patients and their families.”
For the next four years, new cases from Scotland and Northern Ireland will be invited to participate in research into the causes of this and donate samples for the creation of patient-derived organoids to combat drug resistance.
