Blood test to find early colorectal cancer in people under 50
Official title: Discovery and verification of methylated circulating tumor DNA markers for the detection of colorectal cancer in subjects under 50 years of age
Funded at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst · NIH-11348782 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $663,923 |
| NIH project number | 7R01CA252042-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11348782 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Finding blood markers to detect colorectal cancer in people under 50.
This study is working on a simple blood test to help find colorectal cancer in people under 50, so that those who might be at risk can get checked out early and get the care they need.
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Improving colorectal cancer screening and follow-up care.
This study is working to help more people get screened for colorectal cancer and receive the follow-up care they need, especially those who haven't been screened much before, so that everyone can have better access to important health checks and improve their overall health.
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Colorectal cancer prognosis through a broad, collaborative study
A large, multi-center study follows people newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer to find biomarkers and patterns that predict outcomes and guide future care.
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Ceramides and how they affect metabolism and colorectal cancer in adults
A study in adults with obesity-related health issues will explore how a fat-related molecule called ceramide influences metabolic problems and colorectal cancer risk.
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Automated point-of-care DNA methylation test for colorectal cancer in LMICs
A fast, affordable blood test using DNA markers to help identify people at higher risk of colorectal cancer in low- and middle-income countries.
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Rewiring Colorectal Cancer to Harness Therapeutic Hyperactivation
A Yale team is exploring brain-storming new ways to treat colorectal cancer by safely boosting certain cancer signaling pathways to kill cancer cells and by reshaping cancer cell states to improve responses to existing therapies.
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.