Combining imaging and biopsy genes to spot aggressive vs. slow-growing early lung cancer before surgery
Official title: Integrating imaging and biopsy-derived molecular markers for the pre-surgical detection of indolent and aggressive early stage lung adenocarcinoma
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11361072 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at people with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma, this project tests a combined imaging and biopsy gene‑marker approach to better predict tumor aggressiveness before surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $641,372 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA275015-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361072 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with suspected Stage I lung adenocarcinoma being considered for preoperative assessment or surgical planning.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-lung cancers or advanced disease not eligible for preoperative biomarker-informed planning may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on prior work showing that radiomic signals and specific gene markers can reveal how aggressive a lung tumor is. Researchers will refine and validate CANARY radiomic features and two FFPE gene-expression markers using small preoperative biopsy samples. They plan to integrate these signals into a single model to distinguish indolent from aggressive tumors in Stage I LUAD, with the goal of guiding treatment decisions before surgery. The study combines imaging data, tissue biomarkers, and statistical methods to improve pre-surgical planning.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more tailored treatment plans that spare some from unnecessary extensive surgery or overtreatment.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest radiomic and gene-expression markers can reflect tumor behavior, but integrated preoperative prediction is still being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lenburg, Marc Elliott — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Lenburg, Marc Elliott
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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.