NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Identifying risk levels in children with liver tumors

Official title: Validation of Clinical Assays for Risk Stratification of Children With Pediatric Liver Neoplasms

Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-10868737 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking to help kids with liver tumors by figuring out their individual risk levels, so doctors can give them the best treatment possible—some may need stronger therapies, while others can skip the harsh side effects of high-dose chemotherapy.

More Neoplasms research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBaylor College of Medicine
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Houston, United States)
Project startJuly 1, 2023
Project endJune 30, 2026
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$316,352
NIH project number5UH3CA271227-02
Project IDNIH-10868737 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are children under 21 years old diagnosed with hepatoblastoma or hepatocellular carcinoma.

Less likely to help

Patients with liver tumors that are not hepatoblastoma or hepatocellular carcinoma may not receive benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on improving treatment outcomes for children diagnosed with liver tumors, specifically hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. By analyzing molecular biomarkers, the study aims to categorize patients based on their risk levels, which will help determine the most effective treatment strategies. The approach includes developing predictive models that can identify which patients may benefit from aggressive therapies and which can avoid unnecessary high-dose chemotherapy. This personalized treatment plan is designed to enhance survival rates and reduce treatment-related morbidity.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more tailored and effective treatment options for children with liver tumors, improving survival rates and quality of life.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has successfully identified prognostic biomarkers for liver tumors, indicating that this approach has potential for meaningful advancements in treatment.

Where this research is happening

  • Baylor College of Medicine
    Houston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Lopez-Terrada, Dolores — Baylor College of Medicine
  • Study coordinator: Lopez-Terrada, Dolores

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Tests to predict risk in children with liver tumors

    This project is creating lab tests to help doctors tell which children with liver tumors need stronger treatment and which can avoid it.

    NIH research Baylor College of Medicine · Houston, United States · NIH-11124124

  • Biomarker clues to catch pancreatic cancer early in cysts

    A study from UC San Diego is testing blood and cyst-fluid markers to help tell high-risk pancreatic cysts from low-risk ones so that people with pancreatic cysts can get the right care sooner.

    NIH research University of California, San Diego · La Jolla, United States · NIH-11420592

  • Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Research Consortium

    A large research collaboration across multiple centers aims to improve survival for patients with myelofibrosis and related myeloproliferative neoplasms through coordinated laboratory, translational, and clinical work.

    NIH research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · New York, United States · NIH-11399011

  • Understanding how different CALR mutations drive certain blood cancers

    This grant explores how two CALR mutation types cause myeloproliferative neoplasms and could lead to better treatments for people with these blood cancers.

    NIH research Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · Salt Lake City, United States · NIH-11393750

  • Cell Competition in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

    This NIH grant explores how healthy and mutant blood stem cells interact in certain blood cancers to understand why some patients progress and how future therapies might help.

    NIH research State University New York Stony Brook · Stony Brook, United States · NIH-11380052

  • Targeting ERK’s brake pedals to slow cancer progression

    Aims to block the parts of ERK signaling that speed up cancer progression, by guiding drugs to the substrate-binding domains that act like accelerator pedals in myeloproliferative neoplasms and related cancers.

    NIH research Research Inst of Fox Chase Can Ctr · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-11364927

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.