A new mouse model to study liver cancer and improve its treatment
Official title: A new mouse model for studying the pathogenesis and immunobiology of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and improving its immunotherapy
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-10931375 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a tough type of liver cancer called intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and is testing a new mouse model to learn more about how the immune system interacts with this cancer, hoping to find better treatment options that work alongside current therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $535,708 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA281784-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10931375 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or those at high risk for developing this type of liver cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancers or those who do not have liver-related conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), a challenging type of liver cancer with a very low survival rate. The team has developed a new mouse model that allows for a better understanding of the immune environment surrounding ICC, which is crucial for developing effective immunotherapies. By studying this model, researchers aim to explore how immune checkpoint inhibitors can be combined with other treatments to enhance their effectiveness against ICC. This approach seeks to address the limitations of current therapies that have not been successful in treating this aggressive cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options and better survival rates for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant research on hepatocellular carcinoma, this specific approach to ICC using a new mouse model is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karin, Michael — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Karin, Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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A new mouse model to study intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and its immunotherapy
A new mouse model helps researchers understand intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and test immune-based treatments to improve outcomes.
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Radiation plus a patient’s own immune cells to boost cholangiocarcinoma treatment
This project tests a therapy that combines precise radiation and the patient’s own dendritic cells with immune drugs to help fight intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in people who cannot have surgery.
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New mouse model to improve immune therapy for intrahepatic bile duct (cholangiocarcinoma) cancer
This project builds a new mouse model to help make immune-based treatments work better for people with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, a type of bile duct liver cancer.
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Using radiation and your own immune cells to boost immunotherapy for intrahepatic bile-duct (liver) cancer
This approach combines focused liver radiation, injections of your own dendritic immune cells, and two immune drugs to try to help people with unresectable intrahepatic bile-duct cancer live longer without the disease getting worse.
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Combining radiation and immune cells to enhance treatment for liver cancer
This study is testing a new way to help people with a tough type of liver cancer by using strong radiation along with special immune cells from their own body to boost their immune system and help them live longer without the cancer getting worse.
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Understanding how tumor variety affects bile duct cancer (iCCA)
Researchers will study how differences within a single tumor and between primary and metastatic sites influence disease progression and treatment response in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, using human samples and mouse models.
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.