Urine Test for Cancer DNA
Official title: Urine based circulating tumor DNA analysis
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11145158 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores a new way to find cancer DNA in urine for people with certain types of cancer, especially those linked to HPV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $455,256 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA262238-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11145158 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer, cervical cancer, anal cancer, or cancer-free individuals with recent oncogenic HPV infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancers are not related to HPV or who do not have the specific cancer types being studied may not benefit from this particular approach.
What this research studies
We are looking into whether a simple urine test can help detect and monitor certain cancers, like those in the throat, that are caused by HPV. Currently, blood tests are used, but a urine test could be easier and just as effective. We will compare our new urine test to standard tissue and blood tests in patients with newly diagnosed throat cancer. We also want to see if this urine test can find cancer recurrence earlier than current methods. This approach could offer a less invasive option for cancer surveillance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a simpler, less invasive way to monitor cancer and detect recurrence earlier for patients with HPV-related cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Blood-based HPV DNA testing has shown success in monitoring HPV-positive cancers, and preliminary data suggests this new urine test performs comparably.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lautenschlaeger, Tim — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Lautenschlaeger, Tim
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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.