Abnormal DNA fragments that may drive age-related liver cancer
Official title: Project 2: Cytoplasmic chromatin fragments (CCF) as a driver of liver cancer and target for intervention during aging
Funded at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute · NIH-11160733 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are exploring whether small pieces of DNA that leak into cells cause inflammation and liver cancer in older adults, and whether blocking that process could help people with fatty liver disease or reduce risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $361,442 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AG073084-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11160733 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with NAFLD/NASH, older adults at higher risk for hepatocellular carcinoma, or patients able to donate liver tissue or blood samples would be most relevant for this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without liver disease or those with unrelated conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project in the short term.
What this research studies
This project looks at how bits of chromatin (DNA and protein) that escape the nucleus into the cell body trigger inflammation and a harmful aging cell response in the liver. Scientists will examine human liver tissue and blood samples, grow liver cells in the lab, and use animal models to see how these fragments link aging, fatty liver disease (NAFLD/NASH), and liver cancer. The team will test ways to block the cell’s sensing of these fragments to reduce inflammation and tumor-promoting signals. Results could point to new preventive or treatment approaches aimed at the aging liver.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies or prevention strategies that lower inflammation and the risk of age-related fatty liver disease progressing to liver cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory research has previously linked cytoplasmic chromatin fragments to inflammation and cellular senescence, but translating this into clinical treatments is still new and largely untested.
Where this research is happening
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Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Adams, Peter D. — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Study coordinator: Adams, Peter D.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Aging and liver cancer: new ways to prevent and fight hepatocellular carcinoma
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Investigating how cytoplasmic chromatin fragments contribute to liver cancer during aging
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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.