Using abdominal (ascites) fluid to guide cancer treatment choices
Advanced Development of Patient Ascites Therapeutic Response Biosensors
This project uses a new lab device that analyzes cells from abdominal fluid to help pick more effective treatments for people with gastroesophageal or ovarian cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11290370 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your cancer causes fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites), this project would analyze cells from routine drains instead of relying on hard-to-get biopsies. The team developed AscitesPredict, a zero-passage ex vivo biosensor that uses single-cell analysis to identify tumor and immune cells and how they respond to drugs. They plan to refine the device and testing workflow so drug sensitivities can be measured directly from fresh ascites samples. The aim is to make testing fast and representative of the tumor environment so doctors can make better treatment choices.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with gastroesophageal or ovarian cancers who develop ascites and undergo routine fluid drainage at a participating medical center.
Not a fit: Patients without ascites, with cancers outside the planned types, or whose fluid lacks enough tumor cells are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help clinicians choose treatments that are more likely to work for an individual patient and avoid ineffective drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell profiling and ex vivo sensitivity tests have shown promise in small studies, but applying a zero-passage ascites biosensor like AscitesPredict is novel and not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boehm, Jesse Samuel — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Boehm, Jesse Samuel
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.