Blood T-cell signals to detect ovarian cancer early
Tracking Peripheral T-Cell Repertoire Changes for Preoperative and Early Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
This project looks for patterns in blood T cells that could signal early ovarian cancer in people with ovarian or adnexal masses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11283939 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll give a blood sample that researchers will use to study the types and patterns of T cells in your blood. Scientists will sequence the T-cell receptors and use computational tools to find cancer-associated T cells that may appear before tumors are obvious on imaging. They will compare samples from people with benign adnexal masses and those with ovarian cancer to find distinguishing immune signatures. The goal is a blood-based test that could help doctors decide who needs surgery and who might avoid unnecessary procedures.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with adnexal masses on imaging or those undergoing preoperative evaluation for possible ovarian tumors.
Not a fit: People without pelvic/adnexal concerns, those already diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer, or people with unrelated health conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable earlier detection of ovarian cancer, reduce unnecessary surgeries for benign masses, and improve survival and reproductive choices.
How similar studies have performed: Immune-based blood tests for cancer are an emerging area with some promising early results, but using peripheral T-cell repertoire patterns for ovarian cancer is a relatively new and not yet proven approach.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Children's Hosp of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Bo — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Li, Bo
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.