Using blood and MRI to monitor glioma treatment effectiveness
Official title: Integrating circulating tumor DNA assay and protein-based MRI to accurately monitor glioma therapy
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10878885 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to check how well glioma treatments are working by using blood tests and special MRI scans, so patients can get quick and easy updates on their progress without needing to have surgery for tissue samples.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $635,842 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276221-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10878885 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with glioma who are undergoing treatment with temozolomide chemo-radiotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of brain tumors or those not receiving glioma-specific treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new method to monitor the effectiveness of glioma treatments by combining two advanced techniques: analyzing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) from blood samples and using protein-based MRI scans. The goal is to provide real-time, noninvasive insights into how well a patient is responding to treatment, which is crucial given the challenges of obtaining tumor tissue for analysis. By integrating these approaches, the research aims to improve the accuracy of monitoring glioma therapy and help guide treatment decisions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective monitoring of glioma treatments, allowing for timely adjustments to therapy based on individual patient responses.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promise in using liquid biopsies and advanced MRI techniques for cancer monitoring, indicating that this combined approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jiang, Shanshan — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Jiang, Shanshan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Combining blood and spinal fluid DNA with protein MRI to monitor glioma therapy
A Johns Hopkins-led study tests a noninvasive mix of tumor DNA in blood/CSF and a protein-based MRI to track how glioblastoma responds to treatment.
-
Monitoring brain tumor treatment with blood tests and special MRI
This research aims to find better ways to track how well glioblastoma brain tumors respond to treatment using blood tests and advanced MRI scans.
-
Next‑gen oncolytic virus therapy for glioblastoma targeting AKT and ERK
A new cancer therapy using an engineered oncolytic virus to fight glioblastoma by blocking AKT/ERK signals and boosting the body’s immune response, with potential to reduce seizures and improve quality of life.
-
Bone marrow immune cells and glioma progression in teens and young adults
A study in adolescents and young adults with brain tumors looks at how immune cells from bone marrow may influence the progression from low-grade to high-grade gliomas.
-
How RNA Splicing Might Shape Glioma Cell States and Therapy Response
A small NIH-funded project will study how alternative RNA splicing influences glioma cell identities and treatment resistance in patient-derived cells.
-
Liquid biopsy for monitoring high-grade glioma using patient-specific DNA junctions
A Mayo Clinic team tests a blood test that looks for unique tumor DNA pieces in glioblastoma patients to monitor disease without frequent scans.
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.