Investigating factors that affect blood tests for early breast cancer detection
Official title: Pre-analytical factors affecting ctDNA analysis in early and locally advanced breast cancer
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-10691211 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different ways of collecting and processing blood samples can help improve blood tests that check for early signs of breast cancer, and it's for patients with early or locally advanced breast cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $349,281 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA243078-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10691211 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with early or locally advanced breast cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with metastatic breast cancer or those not diagnosed with breast cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving the analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with early and locally advanced breast cancer. By examining how different methods of blood collection, processing, and DNA extraction impact ctDNA levels, the study aims to enhance the accuracy of blood tests that could detect cancer at earlier stages. The research will involve 180 patients and will utilize newly developed assays to assess the quality of ctDNA samples. Understanding these pre-analytical factors is crucial for minimizing false-negative results in early-stage cancer detection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more reliable blood tests for early detection of breast cancer, potentially improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using ctDNA analysis for advanced cancers, but this specific approach for early-stage cancers is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Murtaza, Muhammed — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Murtaza, Muhammed
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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.