A ROMSEY scientist looking at how to prevent oesophageal cancer from developing hopes a funding boost from Cancer Research UK will identify how the immune system could stop it in its tracks.
Dr Matthew Rose-Zerilli, from the University of Southampton, is launching a new study that could help to prevent this type of cancer, thanks to a grant of up to £197,324 over two years.
The study will examine the function of a type of white blood cell called ‘eosinophils’ that help fight illness and disease and play a role in the body’s response to allergies. The aim is to work out how to make this type of cell work even more effectively to stop a common type of oesophageal cancer.
Dr Rose-Zerilli, said: “We have a multi-disciplinary team of experts in Southampton in cancer, asthma and allergy, working together to prevent cancer developing. What we know is that there is already strong evidence to show that if you are allergic in your lifetime, your risk of developing cancer in later life is reduced.
“The cells involved in this process are eosinophils - they’re responsible for allergy and appear to be protective from cancer development and particularly, a type of cancer of the oesophagus called adenocarcinoma.
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“This funding will allow us to use our skills in the lab to learn more about how these cells behave in the oesophagus and how we can influence their activity to protect people from developing cancer in the first place. We’re fortunate in Southampton that we have the expertise here that can help us develop medicines to supercharge these cells in this way.”
The study has been welcomed by oesophageal cancer survivor, and Cancer Research UK fundraiser, John Saunderson, who had major life-saving surgery and chemotherapy to beat the disease.
John said: “I count myself as one of the lucky ones who has overcome this type of cancer as the statistics show that only 12 per cent of patients will still be around after a decade. I received chemotherapy and underwent major surgery as part of my treatment but if we can discover a way for our own bodies to prevent it from even occurring– it could benefit so many people.
“I’ve raised thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK over the years and I’m thrilled to hear that they’re investing in a study that could prevent the type of cancer that I faced and one that has taken the lives of too many people I know.”
Dr Rose-Zerilli’s team includes scientists and clinicians from across medicine at the University of Southampton, including Dr Swindle, Dr Rajak, Dr Eren and Professor Underwood as well as Dr Boccellato of Oxford University.
Dr Rose-Zerilli said: “We’ve been looking to see if these cells behave in a similar way in other cancers and when we did a meta-analysis of around 33 different cancer types looking for a marker of eosinophils, that marker was associated with a good outcome for about 11 of these cancers. These include childhood cancers like sarcoma and adult cancers such as head and neck cancer and lung cancer.
“We look forward to sharing that information with our colleagues when we get further biological insight to these eosinophils and hope to make a really strong impact from what we’re doing in this study.”
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