Blood tests to track gastrointestinal cancer after treatment
Official title: Systematic liquid biopsy to monitor residual disease and treatment efficacy in gastrointestinal cancer patients
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11136278 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores if a special blood test can find tiny amounts of cancer left after surgery and help guide further treatment for people with gastrointestinal cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $267,465 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA273688-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11136278 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with gastrointestinal cancers, particularly Stage III colorectal cancer, who have undergone or are considering curative intent treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer has not been surgically removed or who are not receiving adjuvant therapy may not directly benefit from this specific monitoring approach.
What this research studies
Even after successful surgery for cancers like Stage III colorectal cancer, tiny amounts of cancer cells can sometimes remain, which might cause the cancer to return. This research aims to use a special blood test, called circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), to find these hidden cancer cells early. We want to see if detecting ctDNA can help us predict who might have a higher risk of their cancer coming back. The project will also explore if giving additional treatments based on ctDNA results can help clear these remaining cells and improve the chances of a lasting cure, potentially changing how we approach follow-up care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help doctors identify patients who need more treatment after surgery and potentially prevent cancer recurrence, leading to more cures.
How similar studies have gone: While ctDNA is a promising biomarker, this specific application to detect minimal residual disease and guide additional therapy in gastrointestinal cancer is a novel area of focus.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parikh, Aparna Raj — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Parikh, Aparna Raj
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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ctDNA-based monitoring to guide extra treatment after colorectal cancer surgery
A doctor-led program will use a blood test to find tiny cancer traces after surgery for Stage III colorectal cancer and see if additional therapy can improve chances of cure.
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Using blood tests to monitor cancer treatment in patients with colorectal cancer
This study is looking at how a simple blood test can help find tiny traces of cancer in people with Stage III colorectal cancer after surgery, to see if it can help identify those who might need extra treatment to prevent the cancer from coming back.
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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.