MRI and blood tests to predict response to pre-surgery therapy in rectal cancer
Official title: MRI and blood biomarkers of neoadjuvant therapy response and outcomes in rectal cancer
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11262854 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project combines MRI scans and blood tests to find which people with locally advanced rectal cancer will respond well to treatment given before surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $544,093 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA285456-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11262854 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with stage II or III (locally advanced) rectal cancer who are scheduled for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy before planned surgery.
✕Less likely to help
People with very early-stage rectal cancer, widespread metastatic disease, or those not receiving preoperative chemoradiation or unable to travel for MRIs and blood draws are unlikely to benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would get MRI scans and blood draws before, during, and after the standard chemoradiation given before surgery. The team will analyze imaging patterns and blood biomarkers using advanced analytics to look for signs linked to a complete tumor response or later spread. They will compare those signals to surgical pathology and long-term follow-up to identify which measures best predict outcomes. The goal is to help doctors personalize care so some people might safely avoid surgery while others get stronger systemic treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help people avoid unnecessary surgery and target stronger treatment to those at higher risk of cancer spread.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown MRI features and some blood biomarkers can suggest treatment response, but accuracy has been limited and not ready for routine clinical decisions.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Ruijiang — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Li, Ruijiang
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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.