Identifying patients with rectal cancer who respond well to neoadjuvant therapy
Official title: Novel radiomic signatures for treatment response to neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancers
Funded at Case Western Reserve University · NIH-11089488 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at new ways to use advanced MRI scans to find out if rectal cancer patients have responded well to their treatment before surgery, which could help some people skip surgery altogether and live better lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $609,384 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA280981-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11089488 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with rectal cancer who are undergoing neoadjuvant therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with rectal cancer who do not receive neoadjuvant therapy or those with advanced disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new imaging techniques to identify rectal cancer patients who achieve a complete response to neoadjuvant therapy, which includes chemotherapy and radiation before surgery. By using advanced MRI imaging, the study aims to detect subtle changes in tumors that indicate successful treatment. If successful, this approach could help select patients who can avoid surgery and its associated complications, improving their quality of life. The research will also explore the use of blood-based biomarkers to support these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could allow rectal cancer patients to avoid unnecessary surgeries and their complications, leading to better quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Similar research has shown promise in using imaging techniques to predict treatment responses in other cancers, suggesting potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Viswanath, Satish Easwar — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Viswanath, Satish Easwar
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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.