The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded a $670,147 Project Grant under the Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research program (CFDA 93.394) to Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) to conduct research aimed at improving the sensitivity and clinical utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) liquid biopsies for cancer detection and management.
The key objectives of this 5-year research project are to: 1) elucidate the role of the RNA-binding protein SAM68 in mediating the release of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from cells, 2) optimize pharmacological approaches to enhance ctDNA release and stability for improved detection, and 3) identify genetic factors in the tumor microenvironment that influence ctDNA shedding. These studies seek to generate new insights into the regulation of ctDNA biogenesis, which could enable developing strategies to increase ctDNA levels and dramatically improve the sensitivity and negative predictive value of liquid biopsy tests. Successful completion of this project has the potential to advance the clinical utility of ctDNA-based diagnostics for cancer screening, disease monitoring, and detection of minimal residual disease.
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