Blood tests to track treatment response and resistance in leiomyosarcoma
Official title: PROJECT 3: Applying Liquid Biopsy Technologies to Detect Clinical Response and Mechanisms of Resistance in the Treatment of LMS
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11193263 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project checks whether a blood test that detects tumor DNA can show how well treatments work and pick up resistance in people with leiomyosarcoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $528,278 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA272170-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193263 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with leiomyosarcoma, particularly those starting or receiving systemic chemotherapy or under surveillance for metastatic disease, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without leiomyosarcoma, children, or patients whose tumors do not shed detectable ctDNA may not receive benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will collect blood samples before, during, and after chemotherapy to look for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) using liquid biopsy methods. They will compare changes in ctDNA levels with scans and clinical outcomes to see if the blood test matches treatment response or early relapse. The team will also study genetic changes found in ctDNA to identify mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance. This approach aims to avoid repeated risky tumor biopsies while tracking tumor evolution over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a less invasive way to detect response and emerging resistance earlier, helping doctors personalize treatment and avoid ineffective toxic chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Liquid biopsy and ctDNA monitoring have shown promise in several other cancers, but applying these methods specifically to leiomyosarcoma is relatively new and less well studied.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crompton, Brian — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Crompton, Brian
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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.