Prof Peter Hoskin, Prof Ananya Choudhury, Prof C West, Prof J O'Connor
No more applications being accepted
Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer is radical chemoradiation. Hypoxia within the primary tumour is associated with local failure and metastatic disease. Hypoxia modification may therefore both improve local control and reduce the incidence of lethal metastatic disease. The combination of carbogen and nicotinamide (CON) reduces tumour hypoxia in animal models and improves radiotherapy outcomes in bladder and head and neck cancer patients. A phase II study of CON in cervical cancer has demonstrated feasibility in this setting. However, there are no validated molecular biomarkers to identify cervix cancer patients who benefit from hypoxia-modifying treatment.
This project will develop a hypoxia gene signature for cervical cancer and explore the role of oxygen- enhanced MRI (OE-MR) in demonstrating response to CON. Biopsies will be obtained before treatment and at the time of brachytherapy after 5 weeks of chemoradiation in a control group and a cohort receiving CON will be used to explore the molecular impact of the intervention with CON. Thus, a comprehensive picture of response characteristics will be built to help define optimal use of multimodality treatment schedules using hypoxia modification during fractionated external beam radiotherapy.
A subgroup will be treated on the MR-Linac in a first in the world study, allowing OE-MR imaging during treatment to explore the association with tissue biomarkers.
This is a feasibility study providing the foundation for a subsequent biomarker driven phase III trial of this approach in advanced cervical cancer.
Supervision will be from world-leading experts in radiotherapy, radiobiology and cancer imaging. The appointed clinical fellow will have the opportunity to develop a mix of core skills and experience supported by researchers within the Radiotherapy Related Research group. It is ideal for developing skills in both imaging and biomarker studies as an ideal springboard towards developing an academic career.
All applicants must:
• hold an undergraduate degree in medicine
• be post-registration clinicians and ideally have a specialist training post;
• have been resident and worked within the EEA (European Economic Area) for at least three years prior to application
Funding Notes
The clinical fellowships are usually tenable for three years, although in certain circumstances they may be four years duration. We will provide running expenses, an appropriate salary in line with the applicant’s current salary and grade, and full coverage of University PhD fees. Where international student fees are payable, please provide evidence with your application of how the shortfall will be covered (approximately £17,000 per annum).
As an equal opportunities institution we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.