How fat metabolism affects liver cancer
Lipid Metabolism in Liver Cancer
This work looks at whether blocking a liver protein called CAR and stopping cancer cells from taking up fat can slow liver cancer linked to obesity and fatty liver.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11128751 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) and how tumor fat production and uptake help tumors grow, especially in people with obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In lab studies with mouse models and human tumor samples they use a CAR inverse agonist (CAR-IA) to lower tumor lipid synthesis and monitor tumor growth. Because a high-fat diet and a fat uptake protein called CD36 can reverse the benefit of CAR blocking, the team is testing whether blocking both CAR and CD36-mediated fat uptake more effectively slows tumors. The work aims to guide new treatments that target tumor metabolism for patients with obesity-related liver cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with hepatocellular carcinoma, especially those whose cancer is linked to obesity or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are the most relevant candidates for this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose liver cancer is driven primarily by other causes, such as viral hepatitis, or who cannot receive metabolism-targeting drugs may not benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to new therapies that slow or shrink obesity-related liver cancer by targeting tumor fat production and uptake.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies, including the team's mouse and human sample work, showed that blocking CAR can slow tumor growth but that effect can be lost with a high-fat diet, so combining CAR blockade with blocking fat uptake is a newer strategy.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dong, Bingning — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Dong, Bingning
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 below.