Molecular profiling to personalize radiation and drug therapy for bladder and head and neck cancer
Molecular Characterization Trial
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU · NIH-11135438
People with muscle-invasive bladder or head and neck cancer give blood and tumor samples over time so doctors can use molecular clues to better match radiation and new drug combinations.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CLEVELAND, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11135438 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project asks people with muscle-invasive bladder cancer or head and neck cancer to provide tumor tissue and blood samples before, during, and after radiotherapy. Researchers will run detailed molecular and immune tests and combine those results with clinical information to track how tumors respond to radiation plus drug or immunotherapy combinations. Some participants will receive standard chemoradiation while others may be treated with immune‑modulating combinations embedded in the center’s linked protocols. The focus on small groups with very high-content data aims to find markers that explain who benefits from specific combined treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with muscle-invasive bladder cancer or head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who are scheduled for radiotherapy and can provide tumor tissue and serial blood samples.
Not a fit: People without bladder or head and neck cancer, those not receiving radiotherapy, or those unable/unwilling to provide repeat samples would not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors choose radiation and drug combinations that are more likely to work for individual patients.
How similar studies have performed: Similar detailed molecular profiling efforts have shown promise for identifying biomarkers, but combining repeated sampling with radiation and immunotherapies is a relatively new and evolving approach.
Where this research is happening
CLEVELAND, UNITED STATES
- CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU — CLEVELAND, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GUPTA, SHILPA — CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU
- Study coordinator: GUPTA, SHILPA
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 below.
Conditions: Anti-Cancer Agents, Bladder Cancer