DNA methylation clues to predict and guide ACC treatment
Official title: Harnessing Tumor and Circulating-Free DNA Methylation for Prognosis and Treatment Stratification in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11385408 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at DNA methylation patterns in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) to find markers that predict how aggressive the cancer will be and how patients might respond to therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $370,575 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA292385-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385408 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma who have stored tumor samples and follow-up data, including blood samples for ctDNA analysis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with ACC not undergoing biomarker-guided management or those without available tissue or blood samples may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
People with ACC often experience widely different disease courses, and there are no standard biomarkers to guide treatment. The study will analyze DNA methylation in 200 ACC tumors and examine how these patterns relate to patient outcomes and tumor subtypes. It will also look at circulating tumor DNA in blood to see if methylation signals can monitor disease in real time. If successful, these findings could lead to non-invasive tests that help tailor therapy and track prognosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Patients could receive more personalized treatment plans and non-invasive monitoring tools based on methylation markers.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier work shows methylation patterns can differentiate ACC subtypes and ctDNA correlates with disease dynamics, supporting this approach as promising.
Where this research is happening
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University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ferrarotto, Renata — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Ferrarotto, Renata
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using tumor and blood DNA methylation to predict outcomes and guide treatment for adenoid cystic carcinoma
This project looks at DNA methylation patterns in tumor tissue and blood to help predict how adenoid cystic carcinoma will behave and to guide treatment choices for people with ACC.
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Using DNA Methylation to Improve Treatment for Salivary Gland Cancer
This study is looking at how changes in DNA can help doctors understand different types of adenoid cystic carcinoma, a kind of salivary gland cancer, by checking tumor samples and blood from patients to find clues that could improve treatment and track how the disease is doing.
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Exploring understudied proteins as potential drug targets for adenoid cystic carcinoma
A small NIH grant is funding a patient-focused look at rare salivary gland cancer to find new proteins that could become targeted treatments.
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Salivary gland cancer: how nerves may drive growth and how to stop it
Aims to understand how nerve signals help adenoid cystic carcinoma grow and test therapies that could interrupt those signals to help patients.
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Genetic changes and target genes in adenoid cystic carcinoma
Researchers are analyzing genetic changes in adenoid cystic carcinoma tumors to find gene targets that could lead to better tests and treatments for people with ACC.
-
Identifying DNA changes to improve diagnosis and prognosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma
This study is looking at how changes in DNA from urine samples can help doctors better diagnose and understand the risks of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) before surgery, making it easier for patients to get the right treatment.
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.