Monitoring kidney cancer using blood tests for DNA changes

Renal Cancer Monitoring Based on ctDNA Methylomics: A Prospective Cohort Study (MEMORY Study)

Observational Jinling Hospital, China · NCT05917106

This study is testing if blood tests that look for DNA changes can help track kidney cancer in patients before and after surgery.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment450 (estimated)
SexAll
SponsorJinling Hospital, China Academic / other
Locations1 site (Nanjing, Jiangsu)
Trial IDNCT05917106 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and its methylation patterns in monitoring patients with renal cell carcinoma before and after surgery. It will analyze changes in ctDNA levels and methylation status over time, comparing these findings with traditional imaging and blood tumor markers. The goal is to establish a reliable method for tracking kidney cancer progression and treatment response through non-invasive blood tests.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients newly diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma who have not received any prior treatment and are eligible for radical surgical intervention.

Not a fit: Patients with other cancers, those who have received prior antitumor therapy, or individuals with uncontrolled heart conditions may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a more accurate and less invasive method for monitoring kidney cancer, improving patient outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: While some studies have explored ctDNA in cancer monitoring, this specific focus on ctDNA methylation in renal cancer is novel and has not been extensively tested in large cohorts.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Newly diagnosed renal cell carcinoma
* Without any treatment
* Agree and accept radical surgical treatment
* Signed written informed consent
* ECOG(Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance is 0 or 1
* Follow up protocol and related procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

* Had other cancers
* Had received any antitumor therapy before
* Known or suspected active autoimmune disease
* Informed consent is not possible due to medical or psychiatric problems
* Have clinical symptoms or diseases of the heart that are not well controlled
* Patients judged by the investigators to be unsuitable for inclusion in this study

Where this trial is running

Nanjing, Jiangsu

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions CarcinomaRenal Cell CarcinomaRCCKidney NeoplasmsKidney Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 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.