Study aims to improve recovery after cancer treatment in older people
Researchers are studying recovery after bowel cancer treatment in older people, as the REBOUND study looks at ageing changes linked to surgery and care.
The study, Resilience Breakthroughs in Older people Undergoing cancer proceDures, is examining how key “hallmarks of ageing” are affected following bowel cancer treatment in people aged 65 and over.
These are the biological processes that naturally occur as we get older.
The chief investigator and principal investigator of the study, professor Thomas Jackson is professor in geriatric medicine at the University of Birmingham and consultant in geriatric medicine and general internal medicine at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB).
He said: “This is really important work that couldn’t be done without the support of patients agreeing to be in the study.
“We want to understand how the biology of ageing changes when older people have significant events, such as major surgery, and why some people recover well, and others don’t.
“With this understanding, we can identify ways of improving recovery in everyone and maximising the benefits of cancer treatment.”
Researchers at USB, in collaboration with King’s College London (KCL), are leading the study to understand the factors that influence how well older people recover from cancer treatment and to find ways to keep the body strong.
While age is a known risk factor for developing cancer, treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy (which helps the immune system attack cancer), surgery and radiation therapy can trigger processes in the body that resemble ageing.
By understanding how the body responds to cancer treatment, researchers aim to develop new interventions that could prevent or reduce ageing-related changes and improve the number of years spent in good health. The ultimate goal is to help older people with cancer remain active and continue doing the things that matter most to them.
The study involves analysing DNA for age-related changes, examining gut bacteria from stool samples and assessing changes in blood and fat cells.
Samples will be collected at multiple time points before, during and after surgery.
These biological findings will be compared with tests of memory, thinking, strength and muscle function, alongside information from medical records.
The study aims to recruit 172 participants aged 50 years and older who are scheduled to undergo bowel cancer surgery at UHB, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
The study opened to recruitment in autumn 2024, and to date, 58 patients have been enrolled.
The project is a collaborative effort bringing together clinicians specialising in the care of older people, surgeons and scientists with expertise in ageing and complex data analysis. It is supported by the Dynamic Resilience programme, funded by Wellcome Leap and the Temasek Trust.
