A new method to discover cancer-specific proteins and immune cells using blood samples

Liquid biopsy-based toolkits for neoantigen and cognate TCR discovery for cancer immunotherapy

NIH-funded research Institute for Systems Biology · NIH-10684704

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 typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionInstitute for Systems Biology NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Seattle, United States)
Project IDNIH-10684704 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: 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.

Not a fit: 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.

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 performed: 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

Seattle, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.