Urine Test for Cancer DNA
Urine based circulating tumor DNA analysis
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 ID | NIH-11145158 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer, cervical cancer, anal cancer, or cancer-free individuals with recent oncogenic HPV infections.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Indianapolis, United States
- Indiana University Indianapolis — Indianapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lautenschlaeger, Tim — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Lautenschlaeger, Tim
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.