5mC and 5hmC DNA blood biomarkers for early detection of pancreatic cancer
Official title: 5mC and 5hmC DNA alterations as sensitive and specific biomarkers for the non-invasive early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-11400457 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A blood-based test using DNA modifications (5mC and 5hmC) is being developed to detect pancreatic cancer early, aiming to catch the disease before it advances.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $674,535 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA296639-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400457 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at risk for or suspected of having PDAC, especially those in cohorts with early-stage disease or pre-diagnostic samples.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with advanced PDAC or non-PDAC conditions may not benefit from this specific biomarker test.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a minimally invasive blood test that looks at DNA modifications in circulating cell-free DNA to detect pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma early. It plans to validate the test in a cohort enriched for early-stage disease and to evaluate lead time to diagnosis using pre-diagnostic biospecimens from the PLCO study. The approach combines 5mC and 5hmC biomarkers and leverages existing biospecimen resources to improve sensitivity and specificity. If successful, the test could shift PDAC detection to earlier stages, potentially improving survival rates. The work will involve biomarker development, assay validation, and statistical analysis of test performance in humans at risk for PDAC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the test could enable earlier PDAC detection, potentially improving survival and treatment outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous 5mC-based tests showed high sensitivity but 5hmC-based tests showed good specificity; combining both could improve early detection, with prior work informing this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
Duarte, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goel, Ajay — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Goel, Ajay
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.