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Research Radiographer Lynsey Devlin secured a £8,812 grant to explore the link between gut bacteria and response to radiotherapy for rectal cancer patients.
Research has shown that dietary fibre manipulation can change gut bacteria, potentially leading to reduced radiotherapy side effects and improved tumour control. Other studies have shown that certain types of gut bacteria at the start of cancer treatment can be used to predict responses following immunotherapy and some chemotherapy treatments, but evidence is lacking for radiotherapy. As a result, Lynsey and Professor Anne Kiltie at the University of Aberdeen aim to analyse faecal samples, data from dietary questionnaires and diet diaries from rectal cancer patients. Patients included will be receiving radiotherapy and will be participants of an observational imaging study ‘Advances in imaging to assess response in rectal cancer’ at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow.
This study aims to produce data which will help to highlight potential responders and non-responders to radiotherapy for rectal cancer. The data will also be used to develop future fibre interventions aiming to help patients who are non-responders to radiotherapy have better treatment outcomes.
