Monitoring brain tumor treatment with blood tests and special MRI
Official title: Integrating circulating tumor DNA assay and protein-based MRI to accurately monitor glioma therapy
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11117025 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to find better ways to track how well glioblastoma brain tumors respond to treatment using blood tests and advanced MRI scans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $669,307 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276221-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11117025 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with glioblastoma undergoing or having recently completed chemo-radiotherapy would be the ideal candidates for this type of monitoring.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without glioblastoma or those not undergoing active treatment for this specific brain tumor would not directly benefit from this monitoring approach.
What this research studies
For patients with glioblastoma, it's hard to know if treatment is working or if the tumor is growing back without invasive procedures. This project is developing a new, non-invasive way to monitor brain tumors by combining two advanced techniques. One method, called a "liquid biopsy," looks for tiny fragments of tumor DNA in blood or spinal fluid. The other uses a special type of MRI, called APT MRI, to identify tumor tissue and its characteristics. By putting these two powerful tools together, we hope to get a clearer picture of how the tumor is responding to therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a real-time, non-invasive method to accurately tell if glioblastoma treatment is working or if the tumor is progressing, potentially guiding more timely care decisions.
How similar studies have gone: Liquid biopsies and specialized MRI techniques have shown promise individually in cancer monitoring, but their combined use for distinguishing glioblastoma treatment effects from progression is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
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Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jiang, Shanshan — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Jiang, Shanshan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Combining blood and spinal fluid DNA with protein MRI to monitor glioma therapy
A Johns Hopkins-led study tests a noninvasive mix of tumor DNA in blood/CSF and a protein-based MRI to track how glioblastoma responds to treatment.
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Using blood and MRI to monitor glioma treatment effectiveness
This study is looking at a new way to check how well glioma treatments are working by using blood tests and special MRI scans, so patients can get quick and easy updates on their progress without needing to have surgery for tissue samples.
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Next‑gen oncolytic virus therapy for glioblastoma targeting AKT and ERK
A new cancer therapy using an engineered oncolytic virus to fight glioblastoma by blocking AKT/ERK signals and boosting the body’s immune response, with potential to reduce seizures and improve quality of life.
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Bone marrow immune cells and glioma progression in teens and young adults
A study in adolescents and young adults with brain tumors looks at how immune cells from bone marrow may influence the progression from low-grade to high-grade gliomas.
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How RNA Splicing Might Shape Glioma Cell States and Therapy Response
A small NIH-funded project will study how alternative RNA splicing influences glioma cell identities and treatment resistance in patient-derived cells.
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Liquid biopsy for monitoring high-grade glioma using patient-specific DNA junctions
A Mayo Clinic team tests a blood test that looks for unique tumor DNA pieces in glioblastoma patients to monitor disease without frequent scans.
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.