Better DNA tests to read cancer-related chemical marks in tiny or damaged patient samples
Enriching and Base-Resolution Profiling of 5-Methylcytosine in Degraded Clinical Samples
A new lab method aims to read cancer-linked DNA marks from tiny or damaged patient samples like stored tumor tissue blocks and blood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11266147 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project develops a gentler biochemical method called Glimp-seq that uses natural enzymes to convert and tag a common DNA chemical mark (5-methylcytosine) so it can be read even from broken or tiny samples. The team will optimize enzyme steps to protect fragile DNA, enrich for the marked sites, and create sequence reads that show methylation at single-base detail. They will test the method on clinical specimens such as formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from blood. If it works, the approach could unlock better methylation data from archived tissue and low-volume blood samples for cancer detection and monitoring.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with cancer (current or past) or those who can provide archived tumor tissue blocks or a blood sample for DNA testing.
Not a fit: People without available tissue or blood samples, or whose care does not involve DNA-based testing, are unlikely to get direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could let doctors detect and monitor cancer using much smaller or older tissue samples and blood tests that previously gave unclear results.
How similar studies have performed: Existing methods like bisulfite sequencing and enzymatic methyl sequencing can profile DNA methylation but perform poorly on degraded or tiny samples, and this glycosylase-based approach is novel though built on prior enzymatic techniques.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- University of Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tang, Weixin — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Tang, Weixin
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.