How oxygen exposure affects clinical biomarkers in cancer research

The impact of oxygen exposure on clinical biomarkers - an underrecognized source of pre-analytic variability

NIH-funded research Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11089323

This study is looking at how the air we breathe can change the way cancer samples behave in the lab, which could affect how well treatments work and how we measure cancer markers, especially for people with breast and ovarian cancer.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIndiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Indianapolis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11089323 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how exposure to ambient air during the collection and processing of biospecimens can alter the biological signals in tumor and non-malignant samples. By using models of breast cancer and samples from ovarian cancer patients, the study examines the differences in signaling molecules when biospecimens are processed under controlled low oxygen conditions compared to normal air. The goal is to understand how these changes can impact the effectiveness of targeted therapies and the accuracy of biomarkers used in clinical settings.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include patients with breast or ovarian cancer who are undergoing treatment and have biospecimens collected for analysis.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have cancer or whose biospecimens are not being analyzed for biomarker studies may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate biomarker assessments and improved treatment outcomes for cancer patients.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has indicated that pre-analytic variability significantly affects biomarker reliability, suggesting that this approach could yield important insights.

Where this research is happening

Indianapolis, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.