Blood tests to improve accuracy of lung and ovarian cancer screening
Biomarker Developmental Laboratory
Using blood-based antibody patterns to help people with suspicious lung CT scans or pelvic screens know whether cancer is likely.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180493 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project develops blood tests that look for three types of antibody signals—autoantibodies, antibodies to microbes, and antibodies to abnormal sugar-modified proteins—to tell cancer apart from benign disease. The team will compare antibody patterns in people with lung or ovarian cancer versus those with non-cancer conditions, and build multi-marker panels that work together. Tests will be developed and validated using samples from multiple centers, including blinded phase 2-style validation steps. The goal is to combine these antibody signals with existing screening tools like CT for lung and CA125 plus transvaginal ultrasound for ovarian disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people undergoing lung CT screening because of smoking risk or women receiving ovarian screening (CA125/TVUS) or who have suspicious findings needing clearer diagnosis.
Not a fit: People without concerns for lung or ovarian disease or whose tumors do not trigger detectable antibody responses may not benefit from these tests.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tests could cut false positives, reduce unnecessary surgeries, and help find cancers earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Previous autoantibody biomarkers have shown promise in blinded multicenter validation studies, while combining multiple antibody types for screening is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Scottsdale, United States
- Arizona State University-Tempe Campus — Scottsdale, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anderson, Karen Sue — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Anderson, Karen Sue
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.