Phase 1 population

Solid tumours (all types), haematological malignancies, adult.

Phase 1 Mechanisms

Chemoprevention, angiogenesis inhibitors, immunotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, bioreductives.

First-in-Man studies

Yes

Centre specific translational research interest

Chemoprevention biomarker development; Radio and chemosensitivity testing; cancer cell signalling pathways (bladder, breast, colon, pancreas); angiogenesis inhibitors; imaging studies for determination of efficacy; breast cancer prediction of risk.

Multi-centre Phase 1 studies

Yes

• Tissue and DNA banking (-80°C and liquid nitrogen) and tissue processing facilities
• Analytical chemistry for biomarker development and pharmacokinetic assays are provided by 4 state of the art mass spectrometer
• Genotoxicity assays (inc. Comet assay & immunoassays
• DNA pyrosequencer
• Image analysis system based on a GCP compliant computer system
• Six 1.5 T clinical MRI scanners: one Siemens Avanto and four Siemens Symphony (with Quantum gradients) systems.

Clinical trials infrastructure for early phase studies, tissue bank with storage of urological, breast and hepatobilliary malignancies, and extensive laboratories for biomarker development.

In the wider community at the University of Leicester we have access to core facilities for gene targeting and transgenics, confocal microscopy, DNA Sequencing, SNP Genotyping, microarray, Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry, Protein Sequencing and Bioinformatics. We have access to both X- and γ-ray irradiation facilities.

We also have a designated laboratory for the preparation of samples for AMS analysis and access to the AMS facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, California, US.

Tissue Banking Activity

We use our own tissue bank.

Centre contact responsible for sample collection

Jim Strupish (tel: +44 (0) 116 252 3238, email: jws3@le.ac.uk)