Using blood tests to identify prostate cancer characteristics for better treatment predictions
Official title: Evaluating prostate cancer phenotype and genotype classification from circulating tumor DNA as biomarkers for predicting treatment outcomes
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-10931638 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how bits of cancer DNA found in your blood can help doctors understand your prostate cancer better and predict how well different treatments might work for you, especially when regular biopsies are tough to do.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $566,644 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA280056-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10931638 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include men diagnosed with prostate cancer, particularly those who have experienced treatment resistance or are considering new therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage prostate cancer who have not yet undergone treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how circulating tumor DNA from blood samples can be used to classify prostate cancer based on its genetic and phenotypic characteristics. By analyzing these biomarkers, the study aims to predict how well patients will respond to various treatments, particularly in cases where traditional biopsies are difficult or risky. The approach focuses on understanding tumor heterogeneity and resistance mechanisms that complicate treatment outcomes, potentially leading to more personalized and effective therapies for prostate cancer patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for prostate cancer, allowing for more accurate predictions of patient responses to therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using circulating tumor DNA as a biomarker for various cancers, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights for prostate cancer as well.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ha, Gavin — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Ha, Gavin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Prostate cancer biomarker study using tumor DNA in blood to predict treatment outcomes
A study to see if DNA from a patient’s blood can predict how well prostate cancer treatments will work.
-
Predicting prostate cancer treatment response using tumor DNA from blood
This project seeks to find out if analyzing tumor DNA in blood can show which men with advanced prostate cancer will respond to androgen-targeted and PSMA-directed therapies.
-
Cardiovascular risk planning and reduction for men with prostate cancer
A program to better predict and reduce heart disease risk in men treated for prostate cancer, especially older patients.
-
Effects of ADT on motivation and emotion in prostate cancer patients
This project looks at how androgen deprivation therapy may affect motivation and mood over time in men with prostate cancer.
-
Causal Protein Markers to Understand and Predict Prostate Cancer Risk in Africans and Europeans
A cancer research project looking at proteins linked to prostate cancer to better understand why it happens and how risk differs between African and European populations.
-
Ethical multimodal AI platform to improve prostate cancer detection with ultrasound
A patient-friendly AI system uses ultrasound and MRI information to help doctors better find prostate cancer, aiming to improve accuracy and access.
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.