Prognostic Markers in Bladder Cancer

About the project

About the Project Bladder cancer is the ninth most common malignant disease in the world (Ferlay et al. , 2015). Following removal of diseased tissue, cancer reoccurs in approximately 40% of patients and in 8% it metastasises into other tissues. Since lymph node metastases decrease the chances of long-term survival (Collà Ruvolo et al. , 2021), surgeons often elect to remove lymph nodes at the same time as the tumour. However, this procedure adds risk and recovery time for patients and there are no clear guidelines for surgeons regarding the circumstances in which this should be performed (Peyrottes et al. , 2022). This research will involve the study of resected tissues from historic patient samples to identify possible molecular biomarkers to indicate which patients will or will not benefit from lymph node removal. The technique of RT-qPCR has been used successfully to identify genes associated with lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer patients (Kubota et al. , 2003). In the case of bladder cancer, cytokeratin 20 (CK20) and uroplakin 2 (UPK2) are highly diagnostic markers. (Kokkat et al. , 2013; Tian et al. , 2015). This project is being run in collaboration with Mr Adel Makar, a senior urological oncology surgeon at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. Histological samples removed from patients with bladder cancer over the past 20 years and complete patient histories are available for the study. This project will involve RNA extraction and RT-qPCR. Applications from candidates with knowledge or previous experience in these techniques and a good understanding of statistics are encouraged to apply. Supervisory Team Director of Studies: Dr Amy Cherry Supervisors: Dr Steven Coles, Dr Emma Edwards Research Group: Worcester Biomedical Research Group (WBRG) Additional costs Given that this is a laboratory-based project, bench fees will apply to cover the procurement of reagents essential to delivering the research objectives. This will include reagents for RNA extraction and RT-qPCR. Application Process To begin the application process please go to: https://www.worc.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/applying-for-a-phd/ . The Interview All successful applicants will be offered an interview with the proposed Supervisory Team. You will be contacted by a member of the Doctoral School Team to find a suitable date. Interviews can be conducted in person or over Microsoft Teams. Funding your PhD For information about Doctoral Loans please visit: https://www.worc.ac.uk/study/fees-and-finance/doctoral-loans.aspx During your PhD you can access the Research Conference Support Scheme to support the costs of presenting your research at an external conference. Research at the University of Worcester Research is central to the University’s mission to make a difference in everything that we do. We are committed to delivering excellent research which extends the boundaries of human knowledge, but which also improves people’s lives by enabling better health outcomes, improving food security, developing environmentally sustainable solutions for crop production and socially sustainable solutions to our ageing population, enhancing public knowledge and understanding of the past and present. The University hence focuses its research around five high-level challenges facing society, locally, nationally and globally: Human Health and Wellbeing Sustainable Futures Digital Innovation Culture, Identity and Social Exclusion Professional Education The success of our research is reflected in our continuous improvement in external research assessment processes. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework, REF 2021, the University saw a near 50% increase in the scale of its research and 12% increase in quality, building on its performance in REF 2014 when it was the UK’s most improved university in terms of Research Power, a combination of scale and quality. Research Degrees at Worcester Our research students are central to our overall mission for research. They are working at the cutting edge of their disciplines and driving forward the quality of our research whilst enriching our research culture. We are looking to increase our research student numbers as a strategic imperative. Our commitment to our students is reflected in the results of the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2023 in which we ranked 3 rd for overall research student satisfaction nationally. Key to our success in his area is the Doctoral School, a focal point for all our research students. It provides: day-to-day support for our students, both administrative and practical, through our dedicated team a Research Student Study Space with both PCs and laptop docking stations a comprehensive Researcher Development Programme for students and their supervisors a programme of student-led conferences and seminars Widening Participation As part of its mission statement the University is committed to widening participation for its higher degrees. Although most candidates will have an undergraduate and/or a Masters degree, the University is happy to accept applications from candidates with relevant professional qualifications and work related experience. For further information or an informal discussion on this project, please contact Dr Amy Cherry at a.cherry@worc.ac.uk

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