Molecular Characterisation of Appendiceal Cancer

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Appendiceal cancer is a rare and understudied cancer that frequently leads to metastatic disease with production of copious gelatinous collections in the abdomen, causing severe illness and poor survival. The only definitive treatment available is a complex and aggressive surgical procedure involving removal of organs and the internal lining of the abdomen. There is an urgent need to define clinical predictors of survival, the role of chemotherapy and to develop new treatments. The genetics of appendiceal cancer has been reported in small cohorts of patients but there has been limited research on how mutations affect treatments or survival. There is no information on how and why primary appendiceal cancers often spread just to the lining of the abdomen. Understanding how genetic mutations evolve in the tumours are important for working out treatments to prevent the spread of cancer. Current high throughput laboratory techniques for analysing the genetic makeup of appendiceal cancer has the power to identify mutation patterns than might predict for treatments and survival outcomes. This study proposes completing tumour genetic studies on archived cancer tissue removed routinely from patients who previously have had surgery for their appendiceal tumour. The results of genetic tests can then be compared to clinical characteristics of the patients such as survival time and treatments received. Genes in primary appendix tumours can be compared to those in tumours that have spread into the lining of the abdomen to describe what changes if any occur during the spreading process. This study will help make progress towards better and personalised treatment options, identifying predictors of treatment success and long-term survival. Improved treatments and better selection of patients may ultimately improve quality of life and help patients live longer.