Blood test to find early colorectal cancer in people under 50
Discovery and verification of methylated circulating tumor DNA markers for the detection of colorectal cancer in subjects under 50 years of age
A blood test that looks for cancer-specific methylated DNA to help find colorectal cancer in people under 50.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11348782 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be offered a simple blood draw that looks for tiny fragments of tumor DNA with cancer-specific chemical tags (methylation) in your plasma. Researchers will search for and confirm a set of methylation markers that are common in early-onset colorectal cancers by comparing blood from people with and without the disease. They will test how well these markers detect cancers in people younger than 50 and compare them to existing blood markers. If reliable, the markers could be used to flag people who should get a follow-up colonoscopy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People under 50 years old, especially those under typical screening ages (under 45) or those with symptoms or family risk factors for colorectal cancer, are the intended candidates.
Not a fit: People aged 50 or older or those already up-to-date with colonoscopy screening are unlikely to benefit from this specific early-onset focused test.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable earlier, less invasive detection of colorectal cancer in people under 50 and increase screening uptake in younger groups.
How similar studies have performed: Related blood tests that detect methylated circulating tumor DNA (for example mSEPT9) have shown promise but have limited sensitivity in early-stage disease, so this work aims to improve and validate markers for younger patients.
Where this research is happening
Tampa, United States
- H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst — Tampa, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hitchins, Megan P — H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Hitchins, Megan P
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.