Hair Isotope Analysis for Early Cancer Detection

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT07006909

Acronym

HI-CARE

Enrollment

Registered

2025-06-05

Start date

2025-09-01

Completion date

2030-05-30

Last updated

2025-06-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cancer

Keywords

cancer, hair, stable isotope ratio

Brief summary

Cancer is a major health challenge, and early detection is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Research has shown that cancer can alter the way the body processes nutrients. This study aims to explore whether these metabolic changes can be detected through a simple, non-invasive method: analysing hair. Hair grows slowly over time, potentially capturing subtle metabolic changes that occur during cancer development. By studying the nitrogen stable isotope composition in hair samples donated by individuals diagnosed with cancer, we aim to identify potential early markers of the disease. Participants will be asked to donate a small strand of hair, which will be analysed using a laboratory technique called Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS). The findings from this study could contribute to new, non-invasive screening tools for early cancer detection.

Interventions

None listed

Study design

Observational model

COHORT

Time perspective

CROSS_SECTIONAL

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Cancer diagnosis, sufficient hair

Exclusion criteria

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
longitudinal changes in d15N in hair	Approximately one year	Longitudinal changes in d15N in hair samples to obtain a time-series

Countries

United Kingdom

Contacts

Primary ContactGunter GC Kuhnle, Doctor rerum naturalium

g.g.kuhnle@reading.ac.uk+44 118 3787723

Outcome results