A new method to discover cancer-specific proteins and immune cells using blood samples
Official title: Liquid biopsy-based toolkits for neoantigen and cognate TCR discovery for cancer immunotherapy
Funded at Institute for Systems Biology · NIH-10684704 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for a gentle way to find specific proteins made by cancer cells that can help your immune system fight the cancer, using blood samples instead of needing painful biopsies, so that doctors can better understand your cancer and tailor treatments just for you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Institute for Systems Biology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $442,712 |
| NIH project number | 5R33CA256112-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10684704 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with various types of cancer who may benefit from personalized immunotherapy and have difficulty undergoing traditional biopsy procedures.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with cancers that are not amenable to blood-based analysis or those who are not candidates for immunotherapy may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a non-invasive approach to identify neoantigens, which are proteins produced by cancer cells that can trigger an immune response. By analyzing circulating tumor cells and blood lymphocytes from patients, the study aims to create tools that allow for the repeated assessment of tumor mutations and immune responses without the need for invasive biopsies. This method could provide a more comprehensive understanding of a patient's cancer and how it evolves over time, ultimately aiding in personalized immunotherapy treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and personalized cancer immunotherapies by enabling better identification of neoantigens and immune responses.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using blood samples for cancer diagnostics and immunotherapy, indicating that this approach could be a significant advancement in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
Institute for Systems Biology
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wei, Wei — Institute for Systems Biology
- Study coordinator: Wei, Wei
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Multi-omic liquid biopsy to guide immunotherapy in colorectal and anal cancers
A patient-facing overview of a study testing blood-based biomarkers (ctDNA and extracellular RNA) to better tailor immunotherapy for colorectal and anal cancer patients.
-
Blood exosome test to find lung cancer early and guide immunotherapy
A blood test using tumor exosomes to find lung cancer earlier and help predict who will benefit from immunotherapy.
-
Evaluating blood tests and immunotherapy for colorectal and anal cancers
This study is exploring new blood tests to see how well patients with colorectal and anal cancers might respond to immunotherapy, helping doctors make better treatment choices and potentially offering access to the latest therapies for those who join.
-
Detecting lung cancer early and predicting treatment response using a blood test.
This study is testing a new blood test that can help find lung cancer early and see how well patients might respond to treatment, making it easier and less invasive than traditional methods.
-
Boosting immune response to fight cancer
This study is exploring a new way to help your immune system better fight cancer by tweaking certain cells in your body, and it aims to improve treatment for people with advanced cancer.
-
A center focused on immunotherapy for pediatric cancers.
This study is exploring new ways to use the body's immune system to fight childhood cancers, aiming to create better treatments for kids whose cancers haven't responded well to standard therapies.
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.