Using ultrasound to quickly see how well immunotherapy works for kidney cancer
Official title: Serial Ultrasound to Detect Early Response to Immunotherapy in Metastatic RCC
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-10589070 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how well people with advanced kidney cancer respond to immunotherapy just three weeks after starting treatment, using special ultrasound techniques to check changes in blood flow to the tumors, so patients can find out faster if the treatment is working for them and switch to better options if needed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | March 9, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $212,197 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA259756-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10589070 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who are beginning immunotherapy treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not starting immunotherapy or those with non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to detect how well patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) respond to immunotherapy as early as three weeks after starting treatment. By utilizing advanced Doppler ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound techniques, the study measures changes in tumor blood flow, which can indicate treatment effectiveness. This approach seeks to provide quicker results than traditional imaging methods, allowing patients to avoid ineffective therapies sooner and focus on treatments that work for them. The study is particularly important as not all patients respond to the standard immunotherapy regimen, and early detection of response can significantly impact patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enable faster identification of effective treatments for kidney cancer, improving patient outcomes and reducing unnecessary side effects from ineffective therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that imaging techniques can successfully detect early responses to cancer therapies, suggesting this approach may also be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fan, Alice Chen — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Fan, Alice Chen
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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.