Blood test to track and predict neuroblastoma outcomes
Official title: Liquid biopsy approaches to inform neuroblastoma prognosis and disease monitoring
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11309677 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a blood test that looks for tumor DNA signals to help doctors predict outcomes and monitor children with neuroblastoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | April 11, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $622,186 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA262781-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11309677 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents diagnosed with neuroblastoma—particularly those with high-risk disease—who can provide blood samples with parental consent are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children without neuroblastoma, those with very low-risk disease, or patients whose tumors do not release detectable DNA into the blood are unlikely to benefit from this test.
What this research studies
You would give small blood samples that researchers analyze for pieces of tumor DNA and a chemical mark called 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) using a method called nano-hmC-seal. Samples are collected over time so researchers can see whether changes in these blood signals match how the disease is behaving. The team aims to find markers that show which children are likely to relapse or who may not respond well to standard therapy. This work builds on earlier findings that 5hmC patterns in blood relate to disease burden and patient outcome.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow earlier detection of relapse and help tailor treatment so more children avoid ineffective therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Blood-based cell-free DNA approaches and early 5hmC analyses have shown promise in cancer monitoring and preliminary neuroblastoma work supports this approach, but it remains an emerging application.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Applebaum, Mark Andrew — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Applebaum, Mark Andrew
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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.