Identifying metabolic markers to track melanoma treatment response
Official title: Melanoma: Metabolic Biomarkers of Response to Targeted Therapy
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10795952 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at ways to use non-invasive imaging to help patients with metastatic melanoma, especially those with a specific BRAF gene mutation, by tracking how well their treatments are working and spotting any resistance to those treatments earlier than usual.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2020 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $455,881 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA250102-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10795952 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with metastatic melanoma who have the V600E BRAF mutation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without the V600E BRAF mutation or those with early-stage melanoma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on patients with metastatic melanoma, particularly those with the V600E mutation in the BRAF gene. It aims to develop a non-invasive imaging method to monitor how well targeted therapies are working and to detect when patients become resistant to these treatments. By studying the biochemical mechanisms of BRAF signaling, the researchers hope to find metabolic changes in tumors that indicate treatment resistance sooner than traditional methods. This could lead to more timely adjustments in therapy for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a faster and more accurate way to monitor treatment effectiveness in melanoma patients, potentially leading to improved outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using metabolic biomarkers for monitoring treatment responses in cancer, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nath, Kavindra — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Nath, Kavindra
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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.