Using tumor and blood DNA methylation to predict outcomes and guide treatment for adenoid cystic carcinoma
Official title: Harnessing Tumor and Circulating-Free DNA Methylation for Prognosis and Treatment Stratification in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11144479 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at DNA methylation patterns in tumor tissue and blood to help predict how adenoid cystic carcinoma will behave and to guide treatment choices for people with ACC.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $370,575 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA292385-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11144479 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma who can provide tumor tissue (archival or fresh) and agree to periodic blood draws and clinical follow-up.
✕Less likely to help
People without ACC or whose tumors do not show the specific methylation patterns identified by this research are unlikely to gain direct benefit from the findings.
What this research studies
You would be asked to allow researchers to analyze DNA methylation and gene activity from your tumor samples and to give blood for circulating tumor DNA testing. The team will study 200 clinically annotated ACC tumors with long-term follow-up to identify molecular subtypes linked to prognosis. They will measure methylation changes in blood over time to see if those changes match recurrence, progression, or response to therapy. The goal is to create non-invasive blood markers that can subtype tumors in real time and help doctors make treatment decisions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to blood tests that detect recurrence earlier, predict which tumors will behave aggressively, and help doctors choose treatments tailored to your tumor's molecular subtype.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches using circulating tumor DNA and methylation markers have shown promise in other cancers and early ACC work suggests potential, but comprehensive methylome-based subtyping in ACC is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ferrarotto, Renata — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Ferrarotto, Renata
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
DNA methylation clues to predict and guide ACC treatment
This project looks at DNA methylation patterns in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) to find markers that predict how aggressive the cancer will be and how patients might respond to therapy.
-
Using DNA Methylation to Improve Treatment for Salivary Gland Cancer
This study is looking at how changes in DNA can help doctors understand different types of adenoid cystic carcinoma, a kind of salivary gland cancer, by checking tumor samples and blood from patients to find clues that could improve treatment and track how the disease is doing.
-
Exploring understudied proteins as potential drug targets for adenoid cystic carcinoma
A small NIH grant is funding a patient-focused look at rare salivary gland cancer to find new proteins that could become targeted treatments.
-
Salivary gland cancer: how nerves may drive growth and how to stop it
Aims to understand how nerve signals help adenoid cystic carcinoma grow and test therapies that could interrupt those signals to help patients.
-
Genetic changes and target genes in adenoid cystic carcinoma
Researchers are analyzing genetic changes in adenoid cystic carcinoma tumors to find gene targets that could lead to better tests and treatments for people with ACC.
-
Identifying DNA changes to improve diagnosis and prognosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma
This study is looking at how changes in DNA from urine samples can help doctors better diagnose and understand the risks of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) before surgery, making it easier for patients to get the right treatment.
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.