NEW YORK – The Stupid Strong Charitable Foundation has awarded Los Angeles-based City of Hope $125,000 to fund a Phase II prospective study to validate micro-RNA biomarkers used to detect early-stage gastric cancer in patients.
The team aims to eventually develop non-invasive, blood-based liquid biopsy assays to diagnose gastric cancer in its early stages.
Ajay Goel, project principal investigator, aims to expand his prior research on the use of circulating biomarkers to develop the assays. He will also leverage the funding to discover and validate biomarkers for peritoneal carcinomas in gastric cancer.
"This pilot funding is seminal in developing proof-of-concept data that could lead to early detection of gastric cancer as well as personalized treatment that could prevent cancer recurrence," Goel said in a statement. "This funding will also help us look for biomarkers that can inform doctors if some patients can be prescribed chemotherapy prior to gastric surgery because their abdominal and pelvic area have peritoneal tumors."