Combining therapies to treat bile duct cancer
Official title: Mechanism-based combination therapy for cholangiocarcinoma
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-10821442 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring new ways to treat cholangiocarcinoma, a tough bile duct cancer, by testing different combinations of drugs to see if they can work better than standard chemotherapy and help patients get longer-lasting results.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | April 5, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $164,881 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA273759-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10821442 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with advanced cholangiocarcinoma who have not responded well to standard chemotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage cholangiocarcinoma or those who have not yet undergone chemotherapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates new treatment combinations for cholangiocarcinoma, an aggressive bile duct cancer that often leads to poor outcomes. The team is developing patient-derived models to test how different drug combinations can overcome resistance to standard chemotherapy. By focusing on the molecular mechanisms of drug resistance, they aim to identify effective regimens that can provide longer-lasting responses in patients. The approach includes using inhibitors alongside traditional chemotherapy to enhance treatment efficacy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatment options that improve survival rates for patients with cholangiocarcinoma.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using combination therapies to overcome drug resistance in various cancers, suggesting potential success for this approach in cholangiocarcinoma.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yoon, Karina J — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Yoon, Karina J
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.
-
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.
-
Worldwide genetics of bile duct (cholangiocarcinoma)
Researchers are looking for genetic patterns that raise the risk of bile duct cancer in people from diverse regions worldwide.
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MKK4 and Liver Regeneration after Major Liver Surgery
A study at Mayo Clinic will test a new drug, HRX215, to help people regrow liver tissue after major liver surgery for cancer.
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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.
-
Mutant IDH in bile duct cancer and its impact on immune response
A patient-facing look at how mutations in IDH1 drive bile duct cancer and how targeting this mutation could help immune cells fight the tumor.
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.