​LAPR&D are delighted to announce the extension of the Liver Stem Cell project, which will enable the project to continue to the next phase since phase 1 was approved in 2015.

The project will be continued under the supervision of Professors Abu Hilal and Salim Khakoo at the University of Southampton Hospital with LAPR&D continuing as the significant funder.
             
Professor Hilal explained that during the original project many of the objectives i.e. to grow and maintain functioning liver cells outside of the body and allow for early experimentation of new drugs on functioning livers with much reduced risks to patients have been met.  Our researcher, Mogib Khedr, has  conducted 127 proper experiments involving human samples
 and 69 experiments involving cell lines and liver stem cells and successfully isolated stem cells and succeeded in making liver cells grow in laboratory.  This research has been published in The Journal of Cell Proliferation and the full article can be found here https://doi.org/10.1111/cpr.12482.  Good progress has also been made to identify a way to grow the cells in three dimensions and an ultrasound device has been validated for hepatic cell line.

In additional Liver stem cells have been grown in a clay gel material and can be encouraged to form mature liver cells.

However, further work is required to validate the model so that drugs can be tested.  This will require an in depth characterisation of newly formed cells at the functional and the genetic level.
As an experimental study which has been started from scratch on a very novel topic with very little available data the achievements we had so far have been great and much above the average achievement levels in experimental studies.  Funding for the next phase of this research will ensure that we have managed to put secure foundations to this project and produce strong data to enable us to progress to the use of liver stem cells in the clinical practice. 

The project team have very clear ideas and believe that in the next 2 years (the term of this project extension) they will be able to capitalise on the work done so far so that further grant support can be attracted.

The approved extension will:

        1.   Use an ultrasound device to fabricate cancer cell micro-tissue which can be used for    anti-cancer drug screening and/or drug toxicity testing.
        2. Characterise the liver tissue formed from liver stem cells and validate this model in  laboratory animals.
         3.  Test the applicability of use of  ultrasound wave device in culture of liver stem cells and promoting the formation of mature liver tissues from them.
         4.  Testing the ability of implanted human stem cell (in clay gel) for compensation of liver functions in laboratory animals.

The project extension is funded by £40,450 of LAPR&D funding and will run until June 2020.  Progress updates will be provided via the News section of our website.

The RESTORE trial - also referred to as Autogenic Splenic Implantation - is being undertaken by Alma Moekotte – Research  Fellow at the University Hospital, Southampton under the supervision of Prof Mohammed Abu Hilal.

This new research is being supported with from LAPR&D, research fees from the Spire Hospital Southampton and a senior investigator grant from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) which was awarded to Professor Primrose, who is a key research member on this project.

The spleen is located at the tail end of the pancreas (see photo).  If someone has a tumour in the body or tail of the pancreas, the pancreas, or part of it, will be resected (cut out).  Often the spleen will be removed as well because the blood supply to the spleen is situated very close to the pancreas and sometimes goes through the pancreas.  In that case it is not always possible to divert the blood vessels that go to the spleen, from the pancreas so they have to be removed with the pancreas.  As a result the spleen will not receive any blood and will eventually die.  For this reason the spleen must be resected as well.  Sometimes it is possible to divert the vessels that support the blood supply and keep the spleen alive.

The spleen plays an important role in clearing bacterial infections.  Without a lifelong course of antibiotics & regular vaccinations there is a risk of severe infectious complications.  As a result of these consequences, several investigators have tried to re-implant pieces of the resected spleen.  The procedure is relatively simple:  The resected spleen is cut into pieces, about one third of these pieces are placed back into the abdomen, the body will create new small blood vessels to supply these pieces with blood.  As a result the new pieces of spleen will regenerate and become new splenic tissue.
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However, the question is - will the splenic function be restored?  Or are these new pieces of spleen not functional at all?  This research project will try to answer this question.

The research will follow patients who have undergone spleen auto-transplantation.  After 6 months  participants will be vaccinated with the Salmonella vaccine.  Before and 1 month after the vaccination, we will measure the amount of Anti-bodies against salmonella in the blood.  This gives us an idea whether the new pieces of spleen are able to make enough antibodies to clear an infection. The Salmonella vaccine is chosen because it mimics the specific encapsulated bacteria that are dangerous in patients without a spleen.  Of course the vaccine is harmless to the patient.  We hope this research will lead to a new way of restoring the splenic function and therefore patients no longer require daily antibiotics and regular vaccinations.

The project will start shortly.  The protocol is written and we are waiting for ethical committee clearance.
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Further updates will be provided on our website.
 
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In late spring 2017, we launched our second major research project that aims to identify biomarkers of metastatic[1] Pancreatic cancer (see diagram below) and investigate drugs targeting Pancreatic Cancer cells.  The project is being led by researcher Dr. Pardis Avinrad, who has expertise in the cancer stem cells and biomarkers fields, working under the supervision of  Emre Sayan PhD and Lecturer and Associate Professor of cancer biology at Southampton University Hospital. 

Pancreatic Cancer continues to be difficult to diagnose at an early stage and treat; there are no biomarkers (early warning tests) of metastatic[1] Pancreatic Cancer and also no drugs that specifically target Pancreatic Cancer cells.

Our research project has 3 main goals:

1      identify biomarkers of metastatic pancreatic cancer,
2      predict what the body’s response is to certain anti pancreatic cancer drugs to slow down, halt or prevent Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) [2]
3      use the models to discover drugs that would prevent or slow down the spread of pancreatic cancer.

During this first year of the project we aim to characterize 10 pancreatic cancer cell lines for their ability to resist chemotherapy, metastasize and acquire stem cell features.  Once we have identified the key factors playing the most significant role in the spread of Pancreatic Cancer, we will perform  Immunohistochemistry (IHC) technique.  This is a method for selectively imaging the presence and location of proteins in cells of a tissue section.  The IHC will analyse 100 Pancreatic cancer patients and investigate clinico-pathological variables in relation to the expression of EMT-inducers and other parameters such as stem cell features.  We are hoping that, as with our findings in other cancers (such as liver and breast), at least 1 EMT inducing transcription factor will correlate with Pancreatic cancer spread and patient survival.

In its first six months the project has already made some progress.  The research team has focused on understanding the different biological (differentiation) states of cells and the minimum requirements to ensure meaningful tests.  The team have concluded that the research requires cells at each of the three stages of differentiations (from well differentiated / healthy cells  to  less differentiated cells) with the same genetics i.e. from the same patient.

The next stage (years 2 and 3) of the project is to try and identify new drugs and concentration/dosage levels that can act in the right way on the different stages of the disease to kill metastatic pancreatic cancer cells.

We will keep you updated on progress via the News section of our website.  In the meantime if you wish to support this research programme please visit our "donate now" section of the website and thank you for your interest.


[1] Metastasis is the spread of cancer or other disease from one organ or part of the body to another without being directly connected with it.

[2] Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is a process whereby healthy cells (epithelial) with highly adhesive properties, acquire cancerous features (mesenchymal).

On 15 November 2017 Nik Dakin MP for Scunthorpe and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Pancreatic Cancer hosted a meeting in Parliament of stakeholders, including LAPR&D, to launch the publication of “Need for Speed.”  This is the group’s strategy on tackling pancreatic cancer.  A copy of the document can be found at http://www.pancanappg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/5934_PCUK_APPG_Report_HR4.pdf

LAPR&D were consulted on the content of the strategy which includes 6 themes:
          1.  INCREASED RESEARCH FUNDING 
          2.  MORE AND EXPANDED PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS
          3.  INCREASED GP SUPPORT
          4.  FASTER DIAGNOSTIC PATHWAYS
          5.  FAST TRACK SURGERY AND OTHER TREATMENTS
          6.  CANCER STRATEGY AND CANCER ALLIANCES 

The launch meeting, attended by over 100 delegates, heard from medical professionals on the need to do things differently - focus on early diagnosis; jaundice clinic and treatment within a week.  Speakers encouraged the use of “Need for Speed” as a working document to influence attitudes.  They also explained the difficulty in that symptoms are vague and 38% of patients had to visit their GP 3 times before being referred for specialist care.  It is vital therefore that decision aids are develop to assist diagnosis and keep GPs updated.

The meeting also heard from Cariad Lloyd, actor, comedian and writer who has appeared in Peep Show, Have I Got News For You and 8 out of 10 Cats does Countdown.  She lost her own father to pancreatic cancer when she was 15.  She supported the work of the APPPG and the proposals in the “Need for Speed”.  She joked, abeit with a serious message “the pancreas does not get a good press; you aren’t told to get it out and give it a feel!  It is the antithesis to Donald Trump!  We need to shout about it to ensure we get more survivors!”

Paul Over, Charity Volunteer, who attended the meeting on behalf of LAPR&D said “I was really impressed with the amount of work that has been undertaken to raise the profile of pancreatic cancer.  If the proposals contained with the strategy document “Need for Speed”, especially those related to early diagnosis and research, are acted upon then there is much to be hopeful for.  LAPR&D are funding new research that will support the aims of the APPG and is interested in collaborating with others to increase the speed with which we reached our shared objectives”.
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An update on our research programme can be found in our Winter 2017 Newsletter, available via our website, and a detailed update will be provided shortly.
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Guests were invited to transport themselves back to 15th and 16th Century Renaissance Italy. Imagine you are in Venice and the Carnival festivities are at their peak.  “Who is this masked lady dancing so elegantly?  Who is this draped gentleman?  Is he the Phantom of the Opera?

​...and so the Ball began.  Hosted at the superb Mick Channon suite at St. Mary's, home of Southampton Football Club, over 200 guests gathered on 11th November for the charity's highlight event of the year.  

 The Gully Gully Man (or Gulliver to his friends) amazed us with his trickery and dexterity as he entertained guests at their table whilst others captured memories with the Selfie Mirror from Pink Giraffe

​Feasting on Confit of Duck guests were entertained by Diva Divo - a superb, professional Operatic ensemble, led by the irrepressible Elinor Chapman, a graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.  After supper Richard Linton - Actor, DJ, Radio Host and Master of Ceremonies, was our guide for the evening.  Encouraging generous bids for our auction prizes - a major part of the fund raising evening - and leaving time to present some commemorative cufflinks to one of our founders, Mo Abu Hilal, on his being awarded a full professorship.

 After dinner dancing to the music of London-based Band Capitale – a collective of eight incredible young musicians, all of whom operate at the very epicentre of today's British music industry with a repertoire spanning a full four decades.

The end result are a magnificent total proceeds of £20,494 - more than enough to keep one of our researchers in post for 7 months - a superb effort and special thanks to our organising Committee Florence Gimonet, Susan Kay and Penny Burke.  ​Thanks also to our sponsors: the Barker Mills Foundation; TSI - Turbo Service International; Sport Pesa; The Saints Foundation and Halo Conferences and Events who helped to make the whole evening memorable.

​Thanks to everyone who attended and enjoyed the evening - see you in 2018 and thanks for your continued support.
 

We are delighted to announce that Mo Abu Hilal, one of our charity founders, has been awarded a chair in Hepatobiliary Pancreatic and Minimally Invasive Surgery.

​This is an academic promotion, which is awarded in recognition of excellence and high performance in research, education, international reputation and enterprise.  The award is particularly prestigious as it has been awarded by a Russell group University which represent the top 20 universities in the UK. 

For Professor Abu Hilal,  this is just reward and recognition of his very active research and academic achievements.  He has authored a large number of publications in respected medical journals, initiated many important studies. 

He has also conducted controlled trials and is internationally recognised for his work in developing key hole liver and pancreatic surgery in the UK and worldwide.  His research puts Southampton on the international map as an important key player in the field alongside his teaching and training a large number of UK and international surgeons. This year Mo has hosted the first international meeting to establish guidelines in laparoscopic liver surgery. The guidelines have been published this month as the Southampton Guidelines to be adopted worldwide.
 
I am sure all our supporters will want to join LAPR&D in congratulating Mo on his  well-deserved appointment.​

In November 2016 LAPR&D participated for the first time in  the Pancreatic Cancer “Turn it Purple” campaign.  We obtained the fantastic support of Southampton City Council, the O2 Guildhall and Southampton FC who all turned their buildings purple for a week to help raise awareness of this underfunded and little understood disease of pancreatic cancer. 
 
During the week over 160 people visited our stand in the foyer of Southampton City Council.  Charity volunteers and medical experts from Southampton University Hospital, many of whom are involved in our research programmes, discussed the disease and explained what we were doing to try to understand it better and improve outcomes for patients.  We would like to thank everyone who stopped by, donated, listened, signed up to our newsletter, agreed to take collection boxes and who liked our Facebook page as a result of the campaign.
 
Our social media posts during the campaign reach over 9,000 people which ensure that we well and truly reached our objective to raise awareness.
 
If you would like to support our work please visit our website at http://www.lapcancercharity.com and encourage your friends to like our Facebook page.
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Chaired by LAPR&D founder Mohammad Abu Hilal the EGMLLS 2017 two-day Congress meeting allowed delegates the opportunity to witness discussion and presentations by experienced surgeons and experts from across Europe including Japan and the US, and be involved in the shaping of guidelines for safer laparoscopic (keyhole) liver surgery practice.
 
This 1st European Guidelines Meeting on Laparoscopic Liver Surgery took place on the 10th – 11th February 2017 at the Hilton at Ageas Bowl, Southampton.  The meeting was endorsed by the EAHPBA (European-African Hepato Pancreato Biliary Association) and attracted over 200 UK and international experts in open and Laparoscopic Liver Surgery to develop future Guidelines for the safe and continuous expansion of Laparoscopic Liver Surgery in Europe and worldwide.
 
Topics covered included: indications for surgery, patient selection, surgical techniques, complex clinical scenarios, training and future implementation were discussed.  During the meeting delegates were exposed to state of the art lectures and videos on surgical techniques as well as a number of “Meet the Professor” sessions.
 
The meeting heard that liver keyhole surgery is less painful for the patient; more cost effective; allows quicker recovery and is expanding in use.  However, there are no recognised guidelines for its use.  Draft guidelines have now been developed in association  with the International Laparoscopic Liver Society (ILLS), European-African Hepato Pancreato Biliary Association (EAHPBA), the Italian Group of Minimally Invasive Liver Surgery (I Go MILS), Association of upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (AUGIS) & the Great Britain  and Ireland Hepato Pancreato Biliary Association (GBIHPBA). 
 
For the guidelines to be acceptable it is important that the methodology used to create them must be credible; validated and defendable.  They have been developed by a research working group (pictured) and then considered by 23 experts across Europe.  The guidelines were validated by a Validation Committee, chaired by Dr. Horacio J. Asbun, Professor of Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Florida, USA and was supported by the LAPR&D charity who represented patient interests.  The charity funds research that detects the early signs of these forms of cancer and enhances mini-invasive treatment, such as keyhole surgery, and after care methods – as such to Congress and the Charity share similar objectives.  The draft guidelines cover 4 topic areas: Indication; Patients and Complex Disease; Procedures; Technique and Implementation.  Feedback from the Validation Committee on the draft guidelines was provided to the Congress and will now be considered by the Working and Steering Grus before being adopted across Europe. 
 
Mo Abu Hilal said “tremendous progress has been made during the Congress in Southampton on the development of these important guidelines.  I would like to pay credit to all who have worked so hard to get us to this point including the Working Group,  all subject matter experts and the Validation committee.  We will now finalise the guidelines which will bring benefits to patients.  I hope that over time they will attain worldwide acceptance” .