Using blood and MRI to monitor glioma treatment effectiveness

Integrating circulating tumor DNA assay and protein-based MRI to accurately monitor glioma therapy

NIH-funded research Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10878885

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionJohns Hopkins University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Baltimore, United States)
Project IDNIH-10878885 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with glioma who are undergoing treatment with temozolomide chemo-radiotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients with other types of brain tumors or those not receiving glioma-specific treatments may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: 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

Baltimore, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.