Multi-analyte blood and fluid tests to find breast, pancreatic cancer, and multiple myeloma earlier
Official title: Multi-modal Liquid Biopsy Early Assessment of Breast Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, and Multiple Myeloma
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11180228 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | September 18, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,091,600 |
| NIH project number | 4U01CA285013-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180228 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kuhn, Peter — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Kuhn, Peter
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Developing a blood test for early detection of breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and multiple myeloma
This study is working on a new blood test that can help find early signs of breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and multiple myeloma, so patients can get diagnosed sooner and have better treatment options.
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Blood-based DNA markers plus imaging to track multiple myeloma
This project uses a blood test that reads DNA epigenetic marks together with PET/CT scans to better track disease in adults with multiple myeloma.
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Using blood tests and imaging to track treatment response in multiple myeloma
This study is looking at how blood tests and imaging scans can work together to help doctors better understand how well treatments are working for people with multiple myeloma, making it easier and less invasive than traditional methods.
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Integrative study of multiple myeloma genetics and disease biology
A team at Dana-Farber and partners is pursuing a long-term project to understand the genetic and molecular drivers of multiple myeloma and how treatments interact with disease biology.
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Comparative Modeling to Prevent, Detect Early, and Treat Multiple Myeloma
A research team will build and compare computer models to understand how multiple myeloma develops, can be detected earlier, and treated more effectively.
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How LDL Affects Multiple Myeloma: New Pathways to Keep Remission
A new grant is studying how cholesterol from LDL particles fuels multiple myeloma and how this interaction influences the tumor environment and immune response, with goals to help patients stay in remission.
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.