WG3: Translation Research
Description
Translational research will address the following questions and tasks: (i) Identification of the most challenging and urgent clinical research questions (early diagnosis versus prognosis versus drug efficacy etc.); (ii) Design a registry of candidate markers for pancreas cancer and definition of the special research needs in each case; (iii) Review of current biomarker research in PDAC (white paper) and assessment of the state of current biomarker research (discovery phase, versus phases of confirmation or validation of already discovered biomarkers); (iv) Definition of optimal controls for each disease subtype so as to increase the reliability of current and future biomarker discovery, confirmation or validation studies; and (v) Definition of sample size standards for biomarker discovery, confirmation and validation studies. This is an area of special interest since inappropriate use or even complete statistical negligence has resulted in the publication of several insignificant or even misleading results in the past.
| Coordinator | Stephan Hahn ([email protected]) |
| Co-leaders | Eithne Costello-Goldring, Christoph W. Michalski |
| Members | Sinéad Aherne, Simone Benitz, Barbara Bournet, Christiane Bruns, Ali Cagir, Gabriele Carpuso, Daniela Cecconi, David K. Chang, Claude Chelala, Natasha Cieplik, Eithene Costello, Marco Del Chiaro, Kamel Diazouli, Vita Dolzan, Marlène Dufresne, Julie Earl, Mert Erkan, Cristina Fillat, Fieke Froeling, Maria Gazouli, Claude Gerad, Meritxell Gironella, Paulina Gómez, Julie Guillermet-Guibert, Elsa Ghurburrun, Stephan Hahn, Max Heckler, Marta Herreros, Manuel Hidalgo, Juan Iovanna, Patrick Jacquemin, Bárbara Jenko, Geri Keane, Jorg Kleeff, Hemant Kocher, Bo Kong, Tomas Krechler, Metin Kurtoglu, Markus Lerch, Yinxiang Li, Wolfgang Link, Matthias Löhr, Collet Louis, Magdalena Majekova, Núria Malats, Ewa Małecka-Panas, Thomas Mathias Gress, Cristoph W. Michalski, Patrick Michl, Xavier Molero, Esther Molina-Montes, Eric O´Neill, Stephen Pereira, Jasmin Ramic, Leanne Reynodls, Bruno Sainz, Irene Sangrador, Gregory Sergeant, Filipe Santos Silva, Jens Siveke, Ewout Steyerberg, Oliver Strobel, Hasim Ozgur Tabakoglu, Christine Tiaden, Deepak Vangala, Eva Vaquero, Elena Vila, Dilek Yazici |
Research Lines
WG3 scientific priorities are to initiate a study on "Prospective evaluation of a novel early symptom algorithm and rapid assessment pathway for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in primary care" (WG3-1), to set up a COST registry for already available biomaterial from early stage pancreatic cancer patients and tumours (WG3-2), and to set up a COST initiated European IPMN study group to develop and test risk prediction biomarkers for IPMN (WG3-3).
Definition of a risk population to be included in future clinical studies for early detection (coordinated by Paulina Gómez, Geri Keane, Fieke Froeling, Stepben Pereira)
Focus on:
- Development of a pan-European network combining clinical scientist and epidemiologists aiming to collect a sufficiently large study population of PDAC patients with clinical follow up to select the most appropriate risk factors.
- Development of a questionnaire to be filled in by patients indicating the patient via a scoring system that he would be eligible to seek contact to a clinical study team in early detection of PDAC.
- Selection of ideally routine clinical chemistry or imaging tests to be included to narrow down the risk population. Select potential innovative biomarker and imaging modalities to test along.
Implementation of a registry for available biomaterial form early stage pancreatic cancer (coordinated by Eithne Costello)
Focus on:
- Register already available biomaterial from early stage pancreatic cancer patients and tumors.
- Create a list of supporters for prospectively extending this virtual biomaterial bank.
Implementation of a study group focused on IPMN (coordinated by Chris Michalski)
Focus on:
- Set up a registry for already available sample
- Set up SOPS for patient workup and biomaterial collection
- Set up a list of contributors in a prospective collection for patients and samples
- Decide on the rules for use of biobank material
Activities
LONDON PANCREAS WORKSHOP 2014 - 2nd May
A forum for state of the art clinical and basic research in pancreatic cancer.
The London Pancreas Workshop was launched in 2006 and now convenes every two years. The Workshop attracts delegates from the UK and abroad, comprising of clinicians (surgeons, gastroenterologists, radiologists, pathologists, oncologists amongst others), scientists, pharmaceutical company representatives and pancreatic cancer charity representatives. A wide range of topics relating to pancreatic cancer clinical and scientific problems are discussed and progress updates presented.
+ program
WG3 participated in the "Cystic Tumours of the Pancreas Patient & Public Forum", held on 3rd October, 2014. Royal Free Hospital. London. UK.
The aim of this meeting was to get patients, relatives, clinicians, scientists, charity members and academics together to explore the needs and perspectives of patients with CLP.
+ agenda
TRAINING SCHOOL on "GENOMIC MEDICINE"
This training school was held in Portoroz, Slovenia, during May 3-6, 2016.
A wide range of topics related to genomic medicine were covered. Emphasis was put on the identification of predictive and prognostic biomarkers and novel molecular targets for tailored therapeutic interventions, specially focusing on rare cancers including pancreatic cancer. In addition, a Satellite workshop "In vitro and in vivo models for development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches" was held.
+ More information at training school section
+ Report summer school
Meetings
- Madrid, November 2013
- London, May 2014
- Liege, November 2014
- Liverpool, May 2015
- Toledo, June 2015
- Cluj-Napoca, November 2015
- Liverpool, July 2016