KIM-1 blood test to find and follow kidney cancer
Official title: Clinical characterization of Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1) as a Biomarker in Renal Cell Carcinoma
Funded at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NIH-11247583 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether a blood test for the protein KIM-1 can help find and monitor kidney cancer in people with small kidney tumors, after surgery, and with metastatic disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $424,605 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA258442-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247583 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include people being watched for small kidney masses, patients after nephrectomy for localized renal cell carcinoma, and those with metastatic RCC undergoing therapy.
✕Less likely to help
People without renal cell carcinoma or those with other kidney diseases that raise KIM-1 levels may not receive benefit from this test.
What this research studies
Researchers will measure KIM-1 levels in stored blood and tissue samples from people with small kidney masses, patients who had kidney removal for renal cell carcinoma, and those with metastatic disease. They will compare KIM-1 results to imaging, surgical findings, and treatment outcomes to see whether the blood marker corresponds with cancer presence, recurrence risk, or response to therapy. The work uses existing retrospective patient samples available to the team at Beth Israel Deaconess and collaborating centers, so no new experimental treatments are given as part of this project. Positive findings would support future prospective trials to confirm whether the KIM-1 blood test can be used in routine care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, a KIM-1 blood test could help detect kidney cancer earlier, guide choices about surgery or adjuvant therapy, and monitor how well treatments are working.
How similar studies have gone: KIM-1 is an established marker of kidney injury and small studies have suggested it may signal kidney cancer, but it has not been validated as a clinical biomarker for RCC yet.
Where this research is happening
-
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdermott, David — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mcdermott, David
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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.