Blood test using extracellular vesicles to identify cancer in small lung nodules
Official title: Liquid biopsy of solitary pulmonary nodule with extracellular vesicles
Funded at State University of Ny,binghamton · NIH-11166383 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A blood test that analyzes tiny particles called extracellular vesicles aims to tell whether a small spot in the lung is cancerous for people with solitary pulmonary nodules.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of Ny,binghamton NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Binghamton, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $500,945 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA255948-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11166383 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults who have a solitary pulmonary nodule (a single lung spot up to 3 cm) detected on imaging and for whom the cause is unclear.
✕Less likely to help
People without a lung nodule, those with clearly diagnosed advanced cancer, or patients whose nodules are already definitively diagnosed by biopsy may not benefit from this test.
What this research studies
If you have a solitary pulmonary nodule seen on a CT scan, this work would use a blood draw to look for tissue-specific signals inside tiny particles called extracellular vesicles. Researchers will analyze proteins and genetic material carried in those vesicles to see if the pattern matches cancer or a benign nodule. The approach is meant to speed up diagnosis, reduce months of imaging surveillance, and cut down on unnecessary invasive biopsies. Findings would be compared to standard imaging and pathology to see how well the blood signals match the true diagnosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give people with small lung nodules a quicker, less invasive way to know if the nodule is cancerous and start appropriate treatment sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Early research on extracellular vesicle liquid biopsies shows promise for cancer detection, but applying this method specifically to solitary pulmonary nodules is a newer, not yet proven approach.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of Ny,binghamton
Binghamton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wan, Yuan — State University of Ny,binghamton
- Study coordinator: Wan, Yuan
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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.