A blood test to tell how much tiny cell particles come from tumors versus healthy tissue
A SYNTHETIC BIOMARKER TO UNIVERSALLY ASSESS THE RELATIVE CONTRIBUTION OF HEATHY AND CANCEROUS TISSUE TO CIRCULATING EV POOL
This project is developing a synthetic blood marker to measure how much of the tiny cell-derived particles in the bloodstream come from cancer compared with healthy tissue for people affected by cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11232299 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Cells release extracellular vesicles (EVs) into the blood, and cancer cells release many more EVs than normal cells. Researchers will create a synthetic marker system that tags EVs from specific tissues and use it in laboratory models to track how much of the circulating EV pool comes from tumors versus healthy organs. The team will map EV numbers and contents over tumor development and test how well the marker can set detection limits and improve reproducibility. The goal is a general platform that could guide development of more reliable blood-based cancer tests.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with solid tumors or individuals at high risk of developing cancer would be the most relevant candidates for future human studies building on this work.
Not a fit: Patients without tumor-driven changes in circulating EVs—for example, those with conditions that alter EVs for non-cancer reasons or with cancers that do not shed detectable EVs—may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make blood tests that use EVs better at detecting and monitoring cancer by clearly separating tumor-derived signals from background signals from healthy tissue.
How similar studies have performed: Previous EV-based diagnostic efforts have shown promise but often faced reproducibility and specificity problems, so this synthetic-marker approach is novel and largely untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cocucci, Emanuele — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Cocucci, Emanuele
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 below.