Monitoring blood for bladder cancer treatment effectiveness
Official title: Blood-based monitoring of bladder-sparing trimodality therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10892275 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to treat muscle-invasive bladder cancer using a mix of chemotherapy and radiation, while also developing blood tests to help doctors see how well the treatment is working and if the cancer comes back, so they can create more personalized care for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $567,228 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA259007-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10892275 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who are considering bladder-sparing trimodality therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have already undergone radical cystectomy or those with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a bladder-sparing treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer that combines chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It aims to develop blood tests that can detect circulating tumor cells, which may help predict how well patients respond to treatment and monitor for any recurrence of cancer. By analyzing these blood samples over time, the study seeks to identify molecular markers that can guide personalized treatment plans for patients. This approach offers a non-invasive method to track cancer progression and treatment efficacy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more personalized and effective treatment strategies for patients with bladder cancer, potentially reducing the need for invasive surgeries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using circulating tumor cells as biomarkers in other cancers, suggesting potential success for this novel approach in bladder cancer.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miyamoto, David T. — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Miyamoto, David T.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Nrf2 in T cells and how it could boost immune power against bladder cancer
A small grant will explore how a T-cell protein called Nrf2 affects muscle-invasive bladder cancer and whether targeting it could help patients respond better to immune therapies.
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This study will look at how body composition and immune/inflammatory states at diagnosis relate to the outlook for people with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
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This project will use detailed tissue and genetic tests to look for what makes some non-muscle invasive bladder cancers resist BCG so better treatments can be found for people who don't respond.
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Salt-based nanomedicine to treat bladder cancer that doesn’t respond to standard BCG therapy
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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.