A study of blood vessel cells in women with advanced ovarian or womb cancer

Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.

Cancer type:

Ovarian cancer

Womb (uterine or endometrial) cancer

Status:

Closed

Phase:

Other

This study is looking at cells that have broken away from blood vessels Open a glossary item as a possible way of monitoring treatment for womb (endometrial) cancer, and the most common type of ovarian cancer called epithelial ovarian cancer.

Cancers need a blood supply to help them grow and survive. So growing cancers encourage the growth of new blood vessels. This is called angiogenesis. Blood vessels are lined with cells called endothelial cells. When these cells are damaged, they are released into the bloodstream, and become circulating endothelial cells (CECs). Researchers have found increased numbers of CECs in people with cancer, which may be a sign (biomarker) that new blood vessels are being formed.

Researchers in this study would like to find out more about how chemotherapy affects these cells. They will collect blood samples and medical information from women having chemotherapy for these cancers. They will count the numbers of CECs, and another type of endothelial cell from the bone marrow Open a glossary item called circulating endothelial progenitors (CEPs). They will also study the makeup of sugars in the bloodstream linked to CECs and CEPs.

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 with cancer in the future.

Who can enter

You can enter this study if you

Have epithelial ovarian or womb (endometrial) cancer that has spread to another part of your body (advanced cancer)
Are about to start a course of chemotherapy
Are at least 18 years of age

You cannot enter this study if you

Have a condition that makes it difficult for you to give blood, for example clotting problems or difficult veins
Have hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV
Are having, or have just finished treatment with, heparin injections to thin your blood
Have a disease affecting your connective tissue , for example lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
Have problems with inflamed blood vessels
Have sickle cell disease
Have reduced kidney function – a blood test called a GFR will show this

Trial design

This study will recruit 200 women. Everyone taking part will give up to 2 blood samples before they start chemotherapy, and one sample during their course of chemotherapy.

You will also give permission for the team to store these blood samples to use both now and in future research. And to collect information from your medical notes including about your cancer, treatment and test results.

Hospital visits

Where possible, you will give your study blood samples when you are already at the hospital for your treatment. So you should not need to make any extra visits to take part in this study.