Read article A study looking at laser light as a possible new way to diagnose bowel cancer
This study is using laser light to study samples of bowel tissue. Doctors usually test for bowel cancer by removing samples of bowel tissue (biopsies), and sending them to a pathologist to study under a microscope. Researchers are looking at a possible new way of testing for bowel cancer, using laser light, called Raman spectroscopy.
With Raman spectroscopy, the doctor shines a laser onto the bowel wall and a computer reads how the light is scattered back off the tissue. Normal and abnormal cells will cause the light to scatter in different ways. The computer tells the doctor how likely the tissue is to be normal, pre cancerous or cancerous.
But before this can be used on people, it needs to be tested on samples of tissue. People taking part in this study will give extra samples of bowel tissue during a colonoscopy or bowel surgery they are already due to have. The research team will use these samples to further study Raman spectroscopy. And to see how this may be developed into a test for bowel cancer in the future. This work is at a very early stage, but they hope that if successful, in future it may help doctors diagnose bowel cancer earlier, without long and possibly uncomfortable procedures.
You will not have any direct benefit from taking part in this study, and it is unlikely to change your treatment plan in any way. But the results of the study will be used to help people in the future.
Recruitment
Phase
Who can enter
If you are suitable to join this study, your hospital doctor will ask if you would like to take part. People taking part will
- Be under the care of the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
- Be due to have a routine colonoscopy, or surgery to remove part of their bowel (colorectal resection)
You cannot enter this study if you are known to have Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV or MRSA.
Trial design
This study will recruit 500 people. Everyone will give permission for the study team to collect a small number of extra tissue samples during their planned colonoscopy or surgery, which is not part of the study. You will also give permission for the team to collect information from your medical notes.
All information the team collect about you will be kept confidentially.
Hospital visits
As the team are collecting samples during a procedure you were already due to have, you will not have to make any extra hospital visits to take part in this study.
Side effects
The team do not expect you to have any side effects as a result of taking part in this study. You can find out more about colonoscopy on CancerHelp UK.
Location of trial
For more information
Please note: we cannot help you to join a specific trial. Unless we state otherwise in this trial summary, you need to print this page and take it to your own doctor to discuss.
Find out how to join a trial or contact our cancer information nurses for other questions about cancer by phone (0808 800 4040), by email, or at
Cancer Research UK
Angel Building
407 St John Street
London
EC1V 4AD
Chief Investigator
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Read more about how to join a clinical trial
