The purpose of the REVOLUTION study is to gather information about people with cancer. The aim is to gain a full picture of the physical, biological and emotional aspects of living with cancer. The data collected as part of this study will be stored in a large database (or Biobank) which can be used for further research.
The four areas the study will investigate are – symptoms and quality of life, physical activity, weight and body composition and inflammation. Our aim for the study is that it will give us a greater insight into how the physical symptoms and signs of cancer are related to underlying biological processes.
Data collection includes:
- Past medical history, cancer characteristics, current and past treatment and medications
- Validated quality of life questionnaires,
- Measurement of activity levels over 8 days using a physical activity monitor,
- Measurement of weight and body composition using Bioimpedance Analysis
- Analysis of body composition on previous CT scans
- Bloods including inflammatory markers.
Blood samples (plasma and buffy coat) are stored alongside archival tissue samples at the IGMM in Edinburgh University.
Our aim is that in the future the information stored in the biobank will contribute to advances in the way in which symptoms such as pain, fatigue and weight loss are managed in people with advanced cancer.
The study is currently recruiting from inpatients at St Columba’s Hospice, Edinburgh, and planning to begin recruitment at the Western General Hospital Edinburgh in 2021.
The study team is:
Dr Barry Laird (Principal Investigator)- Consultant in Palliative Medicine, St Columba’s Hospice, University of Edinburgh.
Dr Rebekah Patton (Research Fellow)- Medical Research Fellow, St Columba’s Hospice.
Jane Cook (Research Nurse)- Research Nurse, St Columba’s Hospice.
We also have a small team of research volunteers assisting with the study at St Columba’s Hospice.
.