Major Milestone Reached in PSC Cancer Risk Study
Major Milestone Reached in PSC Cancer Risk Study
Dr Rodrigo Motta
This important research project, funded by PSC Support, has successfully completed a critical sample collection phase, bringing scientists closer to developing a non-invasive method for the early detection of bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma, or CCA)) in people with PSC. This work directly aligns with PSC Support’s strategy to accelerate the development of tools that can detect cancers early and with certainty.
What is the progress of the DNA methylation study?
The research team, led by Dr. Rodrigo Motta at the University of Oxford, has successfully completed the extensive collection of plasma samples. A total of 100 plasma samples from five different patient cohorts have now been collected, marking a significant step towards the analysis phase of the project. This is a vital stage, as it ensures the researchers have a broad and relevant set of biological material to investigate. If you’ve ever donated a sample to research during a procedure, thank you. This kind of research cannot take place without such samples.
Which patient samples have been collected?
The comprehensive collection of samples is designed to allow for detailed comparison, helping researchers to pinpoint changes that are specific to the development of CCA in people with PSC. The 100 samples collected between April and September 2025 were separated into five distinct groups:
- 20 samples from patients with cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer).
- 20 samples from PSC patients considered to be at high risk of bile duct cancer.
- 20 samples from PSC patients considered to be at low risk of bile duct cancer.
- 20 samples from patients with ulcerative colitis.
- 20 healthy control samples.
What is the next step for the research?
The next phase involves transferring the samples to the University of Oxford for advanced analysis. The team will be using a new, state-of-the-art technology to study subtle changes around the DNA, known as DNA methylation. This non-invasive method is highly sensitive and efficient, enabling researchers to gain extensive insight from very small volumes of blood. Dr. Motta confirmed this progress:
“We collected and separated plasma samples from 100 patients between April and September 2025... These samples are going to be analysed using a new technology developed at the University of Oxford. This technology allows us to study changes around the DNA without damaging it too much, therefore even small samples (3mL) can give us plenty of information to look for early signs of cancer.” Dr. Motta.
As part of our Mission 2030 research strategy, this work directly addresses the critical need for a reliable screening method for people with PSC. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a reliable, non-invasive blood test that can be used to screen for cancer in people with PSC, helping to catch complications much earlier.
Turning Ambition into Action in 2026:
Our Fortnight in Focus
At PSC Support, we want a world without PSC. We work tirelessly behind the scenes to drive research and improve lives. Here is a snapshot of what we've been up to:
Building Partnerships: We planned our attendance at major liver and gastro events this year to ensure healthcare professionals know about PSC and the guidelines around it.
Empowering our Community: We published our monthly research roundup to keep the community informed about research progress and advocacy news.
Improving Care: We collaborated with partners to develop a standardised care pathway, aiming for consistent care for everyone with PSC.
Organisational Excellence: We discussed how to show our appreciation to our donors in a more personal way.
Organisational Excellence: We provided research impact data to the Association of Medical Research Charities to maintain our high standards of transparency in research.
Organisational Excellence: We strengthened our data management systems to better track the impact of the research projects we fund.
Organisational Excellence: We signed off our budget for 26/27 to ensure we have proper and critical oversight of our spending.
Progressing Research: We updated the Asp-PSC clinical trial sites to ensure PSC patients are up to date on where they can go to take part in the trial and we held a webinar all about it!