Research priorities for cancers of the oesophagus and stomach: recommendations from a UK and Ireland patient and healthcare professional partnership exercise

Jones, Christopher M., Ng, Wee Han, Tincknell, Laura, McClurg, Dylan P, Adam, Emily, Bhandari, Pradeep, Campbell, Karen, Chambers, Pinkie, Ciccarelli, Francesca, Coleman, Helen G., Crosby, Tom, Doyle, Carmel, Dunn, Jason M., Elliott, Jessie, Fitzgerald, Rebecca C., Foley, Kieran G., Goh, Vicky, Grabsch, Heike I., Graham, Trevor A., Grocott, Mike, Gwynne, Sarah, Harvey, Jo, Jansen, Marnix, Lagergren, Pernilla, Lamb, Claire, Leigh-Doyle, Lauren, Malik, Farida, Mayland, Catriona, McCord, Mimi, Moss, Alan, Mukherjee, Somnath, Petty, Russell, Rananaware, Siddharth, Reid, Joanne, Rubin, Gregory, Smyth, Elizabeth, Trudgill, Nigel J., Turkington, Richard C., Underwood, Timothy J., Walter, Fiona M., Williams, Jessica and Peters, Christopher J. 2025. Research priorities for cancers of the oesophagus and stomach: recommendations from a UK and Ireland patient and healthcare professional partnership exercise. Gut 10.1136/gutjnl-2025-336421

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Abstract

Background: Cancers of the oesophagus and stomach are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Research is crucial to improving outcomes. However, to maximise value and impact, areas of focus should be prioritised in partnership with patients. Objective: We undertook a comprehensive analysis of UK and Ireland patient and healthcare professional (HCP) priorities for research into oesophagogastric cancers across the domains of prevention, diagnosis and staging, treatment, palliative care and survivorship. Design: A scoping exercise sourced research questions from patients and HCPs. These were consolidated and then confirmed by systematic review to represent a true research uncertainty. Research questions were scored on potential impact by an interdisciplinary group of HCPs and prioritised using a weighting derived from a patient survey. Results: There were 835 (395 HCP, 440 patient) respondents to the scoping (n=455) and prioritisation (n=380) surveys. Across these, 4295 suggested research uncertainties were consolidated to 92 uncertainties that were prioritised. HCP respondents represented 25 professional groups from community and hospital settings. Patient weighting changed 22.2–46.3% of priority rankings established by HCPs. All domains were represented by the 20 highest priority questions, 5 of which focused on personalising and optimally combining treatment modalities. Two other key themes related to optimising nutrition and improving quality of life during and after treatment, including in patients not cured of their cancer. Conclusion: This work highlights the impact of patient input on HCP-ranked research priorities and provides a robust list of priorities to guide funders, policymakers and researchers to support and undertake impactful research.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Medicine
Additional Information:	License information from Publisher: LICENSE 1: URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/, Start Date: 2025-09-14, Type: open-access
Publisher:	BMJ Publishing Group
ISSN:	0017-5749
Date of Acceptance:	28 August 2025
Last Modified:	22 Sep 2025 14:02
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/181250

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