How IL-17 drives alcohol-related liver cancer
The role of IL-17 signaling in alcohol-induced HCC
Seeing if blocking IL-17 signals in fatty, alcohol-damaged liver cells can prevent liver cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11098724 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses mouse models of alcohol- and obesity-related liver injury to study how IL-17 signaling in liver cells promotes cancer. Researchers compare normal mice with mice engineered to lack the IL-17 receptor specifically in hepatocytes and track tumor development. They will measure inflammation, cholesterol and lipid pathways, and TNF receptor behavior to see how these changes drive cancer. The goal is to find whether targeting IL-17 in damaged liver cells could stop or slow the development of HCC.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with alcohol-related liver disease, advanced fibrosis, or cirrhosis who are at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma would be the most likely future candidates for related therapies.
Not a fit: Patients whose liver cancer is caused mainly by other factors (for example, viral hepatitis without metabolic injury) may be less likely to benefit from IL-17–targeted approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new treatments that block IL-17 to prevent or slow alcohol-related liver cancer.
How similar studies have performed: IL-17 blockade has shown benefit in preclinical inflammation models and IL-17 drugs exist for autoimmune diseases, but applying IL-17 targeting to prevent alcohol- or NASH-driven HCC is largely novel and preclinical.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kisseleva, Tatiana — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Kisseleva, Tatiana
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.