Blood DNA methylation test to predict glioma outcomes and treatment response
Official title: Project 1: DNA Methylation-Based Blood Biomarkers for Prognosis, Molecular Stratification and Treatment Response in Glioma Patients
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11178465 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses patterns in blood DNA to help predict how people with glioma will do and how they might respond to treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2002 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $613,285 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA097257-23 |
| Project ID | NIH-11178465 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with glioma—especially glioblastoma (IDH-wildtype)—who can provide blood samples and allow access to their clinical records are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not have glioma, cannot provide blood samples, or whose care cannot be linked to clinical outcome data are unlikely to benefit from this work.
What this research studies
You would provide a blood sample and clinical information so researchers can read DNA methylation patterns linked to different immune cell types. The team uses a method called immunomethylomics to count immune cells and abnormal myeloid cells from whole blood and combine those signals with tumor features. They will build and refine computer models to group glioblastoma patients by expected survival and likely treatment response, accounting for steroid use and suppressive immune cells. The work includes comparing molecular groups and testing whether the blood signals predict who benefits from specific therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a simple blood test that helps predict prognosis and guide personalized treatment choices for glioma patients.
How similar studies have gone: Related blood-based DNA methylation and immune-profiling approaches have shown promise, but applying immunomethylomics to predict outcomes in glioblastoma is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Molinaro, Annette M — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Molinaro, Annette M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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DNA methylation-based blood biomarkers to predict prognosis and treatment response in glioma patients
A patient-facing summary: researchers will use blood-based DNA methylation markers to help predict how glioma patients might fare and respond to treatments.
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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.