Monitoring breast cancer treatment using blood tests for tumor DNA
Official title: Treatment monitoring in early and locally advanced breast cancer using circulating tumor DNA analysis
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11136406 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to better treat people with early and locally advanced breast cancer by checking for tiny bits of cancer DNA in their blood, which could help doctors spot any remaining cancer sooner and tailor treatments to each patient, reducing the chance of unnecessary therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2020 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $354,931 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3CA234306-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11136406 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with early or locally advanced breast cancer who are undergoing neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with metastatic breast cancer or those who are not undergoing treatment for early or locally advanced breast cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving treatment for patients with early and locally advanced breast cancer by analyzing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in their blood. The goal is to develop a more sensitive method for detecting minimal residual disease, which can help personalize treatment plans and reduce unnecessary therapies. By using a novel approach called TARgeted DIgital Sequencing (TARDIS), the researchers aim to identify cancer recurrence earlier than current imaging methods allow. This could lead to better outcomes and less overtreatment for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more personalized treatment plans for breast cancer patients, reducing unnecessary therapies and improving overall survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using ctDNA analysis for monitoring cancer treatment, indicating that this approach could be a significant advancement in breast cancer care.
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using a blood test that looks for tumor DNA to monitor early and locally advanced breast cancer
This project uses a sensitive blood test that looks for tiny bits of tumor DNA to track treatment response in people with early or locally advanced breast cancer.
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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.
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This study is looking at whether a less invasive procedure called sentinel lymph node biopsy can help women with locally advanced breast cancer who have received chemotherapy, making it easier to check for cancer spread in the armpit without needing more complicated surgeries.
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Radiomic markers from 3D mammography to predict breast cancer risk across diverse women
A Mayo Clinic team is testing advanced computer-derived features from 3D mammograms to improve predicting who will develop breast cancer, including diverse groups of women.
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A breast cancer treatment study tests whether a common blood pressure drug (losartan) can help immune cells get into tumors and work better with immunotherapy.
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Personalizing estrogen therapy for ER-positive breast cancer
This project finds how the hormone estrogen can kill certain ER-positive breast cancers and how to tell which patients will benefit.
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.