How a cell-cleanup pathway in liver support cells affects immune activity against liver cancer
Official title: Interferon regulation by NBR1-driven chaperone-mediated autophagy in stellate cells in liver cancer
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11229787 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether changing a cellular cleanup system in liver support cells can help immune cells better attack hepatocellular carcinoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $492,020 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA265892-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11229787 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants would be people with hepatocellular carcinoma or those with advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis who can donate tumor or liver tissue samples for research.
✕Less likely to help
People without liver disease or those expecting an immediate new therapy are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this basic and translational research right away.
What this research studies
The team studies hepatic stellate cells, which are liver support cells that can drive fibrosis and promote liver cancer. They will examine patient-derived samples and use mouse models where the proteins NBR1 and p62 are altered to see how those changes affect a cell-cleanup process (chaperone-mediated autophagy) and interferon signaling. The researchers will measure how those molecular changes influence CD8+ T cell activity and tumor growth in the liver. The combined human-sample and animal work aims to reveal molecular steps that could be targeted to strengthen anti-tumor immunity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new ways to boost immune attacks on liver cancer and point to novel treatment targets for hepatocellular carcinoma.
How similar studies have gone: Other research boosting CD8+ T cell responses has shown promise in cancer, but targeting NBR1-driven chaperone-mediated autophagy in stellate cells is a novel approach with encouraging preliminary data.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moscat, Jorge — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Moscat, Jorge
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
AI-powered liver cancer screening using ultrasound blood flow patterns
A new AI-based method analyzes liver blood flow signals to help detect liver cancer early in people with liver disease, especially in settings with limited resources.
-
Aging and liver cancer: new ways to prevent and fight hepatocellular carcinoma
This research explores how aging promotes liver cancer and tests new preventive approaches that could help people at higher risk due to age.
-
Testing new therapies for pediatric and young adult sarcoma, kidney, and liver cancers
Researchers are testing new drugs and smart combinations in models of pediatric cancers to help guide future treatments for kids and young adults.
-
Liver cancer prevention and care in Uganda using HIV clinic networks
A program in Uganda uses existing HIV care systems to roll out liver cancer prevention, screening, and treatment strategies tailored to local needs.
-
Leveraging HIV care to prevent liver cancer in Uganda
A program in Uganda uses existing HIV care clinics to roll out a liver cancer prevention and treatment plan tailored to local needs.
-
Damaged telomeres and telomerase in liver scarring and liver cancer
Using human stem-cell models, researchers look at how short telomeres and telomerase changes can lead to liver scarring and liver cancer for people with telomere-related risks.
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.