
"I am glad that taking part in a trial might help others on their own cancer journey.”
Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.
This study will look at blood and tissue samples from people with and without a condition linked to a virus called the Epstein Barr virus (EBV).
The Epstein Barr virus is a common virus that most adults carry without noticing any effects. It usually infects cells of the immune system called B cells. But in some rare cases, the EB virus can infect other immune system cells called T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. This can cause rare types of lymphomas and leukaemias, including a non Hodgkin lymphoma which develops outside the lymphatic system (extra nodal), and a leukaemia called ‘aggressive natural killer cell leukaemia’.
Researchers want to understand more about how EBV helps these and other conditions to develop. They will look at samples from people with and without conditions related to the Epstein Barr virus. They will also create a record or ‘registry’ of information about people across the UK with these conditions. This will help doctors to find out as much as possible about these rare conditions, and the best ways to treat them. The aims of this study are to
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.
You can enter this study if you have, or your doctor thinks you may have, a cancer or another condition related to the Epstein Barr virus. These are rare conditions and include
The study team will also look at samples from people who do not have one of these conditions, including tissue from people who have had their tonsils removed and blood samples from the Blood Transfusion Service.
Everyone taking part will give the study team permission to
The study team are looking at samples of blood or tissue that have either already been taken, or will be taken at the same time as your routine tests.
So you will not need to make extra visits to the hospital to take part in this study.
As there are no treatments in this study, there are no side effects. We have more information about bone marrow tests.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Dr Claire Shannon-Lowe
Bloodwise
Cancer Research UK
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
Gregor Mackay Memorial Fund
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
University of Birmingham
Freephone 0808 800 4040
"I am glad that taking part in a trial might help others on their own cancer journey.”