ctDNA-based monitoring to guide extra treatment after colorectal cancer surgery
Official title: Systematic liquid biopsy to monitor residual disease and treatment efficacy in gastrointestinal cancer patients
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11362598 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $267,465 |
| NIH project number | 5K08CA273688-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362598 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Stage III colorectal cancer who have undergone curative-intent surgery and are candidates for adjuvant therapy may enroll.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancer does not shed detectable ctDNA or who are not eligible for adjuvant therapy may derive no benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a blood-based biomarker test to detect minimal residual disease after surgical treatment for Stage III colorectal cancer. It will test whether ctDNA can guide the decision to give extra therapy and whether decreasing ctDNA levels correlates with better recurrence-free survival. The study involves a multi-institutional, patient-focused trial (ACT3) with approximately 500 participants to evaluate the timing and effectiveness of adjuvant treatment guided by ctDNA results. Technologies to improve MRD detection will be compared to identify the best approach for clinical use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, ctDNA-guided therapy could personalize adjuvant treatment and improve cure rates by identifying who needs more therapy after surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary ctDNA approaches have shown promise in guiding therapy, but definitive clinical benefit awaits results from this multi-institutional trial.
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
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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.