Bladder cancer progression and risk prediction in early bladder lesions
Official title: Project 2
Funded at Methodist Hospital Research Institute · NIH-11418386 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A grant exploring how early bladder cancer progresses and which patients with non-muscle-invasive disease are most likely to worsen.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $343,745 |
| NIH project number | 5U54CA274375-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418386 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and those at risk of progression.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without NMIBC or those not at risk of progression may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at the biology of early bladder cancer to find markers that predict progression from non-muscle-invasive to muscle-invasive disease. It uses advanced RNA sequencing to compare cell populations in non-muscle-invasive and muscle-invasive tumors and to identify key signals that drive progression. The goal is to translate these findings into risk stratification so clinicians can tailor surveillance and treatment to patients most at risk. The study emphasizes cancer-associated fibroblasts and specific epithelial cell populations as potential drivers and markers of progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with early bladder cancer could receive more personalized monitoring and treatment plans to prevent progression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked specific cell populations and fibroblast signals to bladder cancer progression, supporting the approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Theodorescu, Dan — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Theodorescu, Dan
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.