Abnormal DNA methylation patterns in the colon
Full Research Project 2: Unusual DNA methylation phenotype in Colorectal Cancer
Researchers are looking for unusual DNA methylation patterns in normal colon tissue from people with and without colorectal cancer to find early signs of higher risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11189657 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project compares normal colon tissue from people who have colorectal cancer and from people who do not, using samples gathered from the local patient population. The team will look for an “Outlier Methylation Phenotype” (OMP) — a pattern of DNA changes in normal mucosa that was seen in a prior pilot study. They will analyze samples from about 156 patients with colorectal cancer and 228 controls and use patient-derived organoids to study how OMP might contribute to tumor development. The goal is to understand how common OMP is and how it might lead to cancer so we can find better early markers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults in the Temple University catchment area who are either diagnosed with colorectal cancer or are control patients providing normal colon tissue or blood samples, often at the time of colonoscopy or surgery.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment improvements should not expect direct clinical benefit from participating, and minors or those unable to provide tissue samples would not be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new early biomarkers that help identify people at higher risk for colorectal cancer before tumors develop.
How similar studies have performed: A prior pilot from this program found the Outlier Methylation Phenotype linked to colorectal cancer, but larger confirmation and mechanistic work remain limited.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Temple Univ of the Commonwealth — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sapienza, Carmen — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Sapienza, Carmen
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.