A local university professor is set to lead an important cancer study which could see 'earlier diagnosis'.
Professor Joanne Edwards and her team at the University of Glasgow have been awarded a grant of £18,300 from Bowel Cancer UK to further understand who might be at risk of their cancer spreading and how to prevent it.
The study will investigate the likelihood of cancer spreading to other organs in bowel cancer patients.
The team will look at changes in bowel cancer samples to see if they are present at early stages and whether there's any pattern between this and the clinical outcome of the patient.
If there is, it could be used to predict which patients are at higher risk of cancer spread and this could lead to earlier diagnosis and improved treatment options.
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Professor Joanne Edwards said: "We are very excited about this project and extremely grateful to Bowel Cancer UK for providing the funding. Metastasis has been shown to contribute to the majority of bowel cancer deaths.
"With nearly half of all bowel cancer patients developing metastasis, it is extremely important to understand the process that drives the spread of cancer. Cancer cells can develop the capacity to move around the body through a biological process known as Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
"This project aims to develop a new tool to determine which patients are likely to undergo EMT and therefore develop metastasis.
"It is hoped that early identification of those with the potential to develop a cancer spread will enable clinicians to intervene earlier and improve patient survival rates and quality of life."
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Dr Lisa Wilde, director of research and external affairs at Bowel Cancer UK added: "We are delighted to invest in Professor Edwards' research.
"Stronger or more extensive treatments often have worse side effects and a bigger impact on quality of life.
"Identifying which patients are at higher risk of their bowel cancer spreading will help them and their clinical teams decide which treatments are right for them to survive and thrive."
To find out more about Bowel Cancer UK, click HERE
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