Multi-analyte blood and fluid tests to find breast, pancreatic cancer, and multiple myeloma earlier
Multi-modal Liquid Biopsy Early Assessment of Breast Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, and Multiple Myeloma
Researchers are creating combined blood and body-fluid tests to help find breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and multiple myeloma earlier for people having screening or diagnostic workups.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180228 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will collect blood and other body fluids and analyze DNA and proteins from single cells, tiny tumor particles called oncosomes, and plasma. They will combine multiple types of measurements (genomics and proteomics) to look for early cancer signals that a single test might miss. The program runs three focused projects: a blood-test companion to mammography for breast cancer screening, tests aimed at earlier detection of pancreatic cancer, and assays relevant to multiple myeloma using blood and bone marrow samples. The team aims to refine and validate these multi-analyte tests using clinical samples so one or more could be ready for clinical use during the project period.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include people undergoing breast cancer screening (mammography), patients being evaluated for possible pancreatic cancer, and individuals with suspected or monitored multiple myeloma who can provide blood or bone marrow samples.
Not a fit: People with cancers outside the three targeted types or those unwilling/unable to provide required blood or tissue samples are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these multi-analyte liquid biopsy tests could detect certain cancers earlier and improve screening accuracy, potentially catching cancers when they are easier to treat.
How similar studies have performed: Some liquid biopsy approaches such as circulating tumor DNA tests have shown promise, but integrating single-cell genomics, proteomics, and oncosomes across these cancers is relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kuhn, Peter — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Kuhn, Peter
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.