How the immune signal IL-27 affects liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)
IL-27R signaling as a negative regulator of innate and adaptive anti-cancer immunity in hepatocellular carcinoma
This work looks at whether blocking IL-27 signaling can help the immune system better attack hepatocellular carcinoma in people with liver cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146665 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use laboratory and animal models of hepatocellular carcinoma to study how IL-27 receptor signaling changes tumor growth and immune responses in the liver. They will remove or block IL-27R signaling and track which innate and adaptive immune cells increase, activate, or change function. The team will analyze molecular pathways in immune cells and tumors to find how IL-27 limits anti-cancer immunity. Findings are intended to guide future therapies that target this pathway to boost immune control of liver tumors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for any future human-focused work would be people diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma, especially those with inflammation-driven liver disease such as cirrhosis or fatty liver disease.
Not a fit: People without liver cancer or whose tumors are driven by non-immune mechanisms would be unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new treatments that boost patients' immune responses against liver cancer by targeting IL-27 signaling.
How similar studies have performed: Previous preclinical work, including the investigators' mouse studies, showed that removing IL-27 receptor signaling reduced liver tumors and increased anti-tumor immune cells, so this builds on promising but still preclinical results.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koltsova, Ekaterina — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Koltsova, Ekaterina
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.