Urine-based ctDNA analysis for early cancer detection and monitoring
Official title: Urine based circulating tumor DNA analysis
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11294899 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A urine-based test is being developed to detect cancer DNA in urine and compare it with blood tests, with the aim of improving early detection and monitoring of cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $422,794 |
| NIH project number | 4R37CA262238-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11294899 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with early-stage oropharyngeal cancer or those at risk where urine ctDNA testing could be informative.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without detectable ctDNA in urine or those not having the specific cancer types studied may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a urine-based approach to detect circulating tumor DNA and compare it to traditional blood tests in patients with early-stage cancers like oropharyngeal cancer. It builds on the idea that urine can capture all of a day’s ctDNA, potentially increasing sensitivity. The study uses sequencing of urine DNA to identify HPV DNA and other tumor DNA signals, and it will evaluate performance against matched blood samples and in a xenograft model. Results could lead to a more sensitive, noninvasive option for catching cancer earlier and tracking minimal residual disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have a more sensitive, noninvasive test for early cancer detection and ongoing monitoring.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggests urine ctDNA can be more sensitive than blood-based testing in some settings, supporting further validation.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lautenschlaeger, Tim — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Lautenschlaeger, Tim
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Urine Test for Cancer DNA
This research explores a new way to find cancer DNA in urine for people with certain types of cancer, especially those linked to HPV.
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.