CRIBS

Status: Open

Specialty: Prostate

Date Opened: 12/11/2024

Planned Close Date: 3?

Sponsor: Academic

Principal Investigator: Prof. Alison Birtle

Study Title: Chronic Radiation Induced Bowel Toxicity Study

In the UK over 22,000 people undergo pelvic radiotherapy treatment per year, for several types of cancers including prostate cancer. We want to investigate whether there are any differences in the bacteria in the bowel in patients with prostate cancer and whether these change during treatment.

It is normal for anyone to have a range of different bacteria living in the gut. These so-called ‘good’ bacteria (gut microbiome) help with breaking down our food so that our bodies can use it. We also think that they affect our bodies in several different ways, such as working with our immune system to help fight diseases and infections. We do not know whether the range of bacteria in the bowel might be different in people with prostate cancer or might change with pelvic radiotherapy. The aim of this study is to analyse the bacteria from the stool of patients undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

We will also look for any changes in the urine, blood and using rectal swabs that might be a surrogate for what is happening in the gut at the same time. We will compare the gut bacteria before, during and after treatment to give us information on whether any changes might be related to treatment side effects or even how the cancer responds to treatment. We also wish to collect food frequency/ food diary information for each patient alongside health questionnaires. Alongside our data, routine toxicities are assessed weekly.