Using blood tests to improve prognosis and monitoring of neuroblastoma in children

Liquid biopsy approaches to inform neuroblastoma prognosis and disease monitoring

NIH-funded research University of Chicago · NIH-11056092

This study is looking for new ways to use blood tests to help doctors understand how well children with high-risk neuroblastoma are responding to treatment and if they might have a chance of relapse, so they can tailor the best care for each child.

Quick facts

Grant typeR37 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Chicago NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, United States)
Project IDNIH-11056092 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing new blood-based biomarkers to better predict outcomes for children with high-risk neuroblastoma. By analyzing cell-free DNA from blood samples, the study aims to identify specific genetic modifications that indicate how well a child is responding to treatment and whether they are at risk of relapse. The methodology involves a novel approach that examines epigenetic changes in DNA, which can provide insights into the biology of the cancer. This could lead to more personalized treatment strategies for affected children.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma.

Not a fit: Patients with low-risk neuroblastoma or those outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the ability to predict treatment outcomes and tailor therapies for children with neuroblastoma.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using blood-based biomarkers for cancer prognosis, indicating that this approach could be effective.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, 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.
Conditions burden of disease
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.