Using tumor and blood DNA methylation to predict outcomes and guide treatment for adenoid cystic carcinoma
Harnessing Tumor and Circulating-Free DNA Methylation for Prognosis and Treatment Stratification in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma
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 ID | NIH-11144479 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Houston, United States
- 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
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 below.