Glutamine and macrophage behavior in liver cancer
Official title: Investigating Glutamine-Driven Modulation of Macrophage Function in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11623910 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A funded project at a medical university aims to understand how the liver’s immune cells interact with a specific type of liver cancer by looking at metabolism, especially glutamine and ammonia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | April 3, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $226,500 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM130457-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11623910 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or those with liver disease affecting glutamine metabolism may be relevant partners for future translation.
✕Less likely to help
If a patient’s tumor does not exhibit the glutamine-immune interaction described, they may not benefit from metabolic modulation strategies studied here.
What this research studies
This project explores how hepatic macrophages behave in the tumor environment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and how differences in tumor metabolism affect immune cell function. It uses mouse models and human tumor data to study Glutamine Synthetase and how Glu/Gln levels shape macrophage activity and response to immune therapies. The researchers hypothesize that changing the glutamine balance in the tumor could alter macrophage behavior and potentially improve the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Results could point to new strategies that combine metabolic modulation with existing cancer immunotherapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to metabolic approaches that boost immune therapy effectiveness for liver cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have linked tumor metabolism to immune cell function and therapy response, but this specific glutamine-immune interaction in HCC is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Delgado, Evan R — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Delgado, Evan R
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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.