A device to improve immunotherapy delivery for liver cancer treatment
Official title: An image-guided immunotherapy and hyperthermia delivery device to overcome barriers to tumor immunity for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11031362 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new device called the ImFusion system that helps deliver cancer-fighting treatments directly into liver tumors while also warming the area to boost the treatment's effectiveness, aiming to provide a better and safer option for people with advanced liver cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 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 start | March 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $464,218 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA269622-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031362 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who are seeking innovative treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage liver cancer or those who do not have hepatocellular carcinoma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of immunotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by developing a novel device called the ImFusion system. This device allows for precise intratumoral delivery of immunotherapies while also generating localized hyperthermia to improve treatment outcomes. By overcoming barriers associated with traditional injection methods, the ImFusion system aims to activate the immune response against tumors more effectively. Patients may benefit from a more targeted and efficient treatment approach that minimizes side effects and maximizes therapeutic impact.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective immunotherapy treatments for patients with advanced liver cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with localized immunotherapy approaches, suggesting potential for success with this novel delivery system.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sheth, Rahul Anil — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Sheth, Rahul Anil
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Image-guided device to deliver immunotherapy and heat to liver tumors
This project uses a special image-guided device to put immune-boosting medicine and controlled heat directly into liver tumors for people with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Determinants of immunotherapy response in NASH-related liver cancer
Aims to understand why some patients with NASH-related hepatocellular carcinoma respond differently to immunotherapy and to identify biomarkers that predict who benefits.
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Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Platform for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
A Johns Hopkins study will test immune-based therapy given before surgery to shrink liver cancer and help prevent recurrence.
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Predicting early harms and biomarkers in liver cancer patients treated with immunotherapy
This grant aims to identify early signs of serious side effects and find blood biomarkers that predict toxicity or good response in people with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immunotherapy.
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Catheter-guided nanoparticle delivery of anti–PD-L1 immunotherapy to liver tumors
It delivers PD-L1 blocking immunotherapy directly into liver tumors through a catheter using nanoparticle carriers for people with hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Why immunotherapy works less well for NASH-related liver cancer
This project tests whether adding drugs that block KIT/MAPK/Wnt pathways to immunotherapy helps people with NASH-related liver cancer respond better.
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.