Investigating a new way to treat bile duct cancer
Official title: Dissecting a novel tumor-promoting axis in cholangiocarcinoma
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10979882 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for better treatments for bile duct cancer by exploring how a protein called B7-H4 helps tumors grow, with the hope of finding new ways to fight this tough disease and improve survival for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 13, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $612,322 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA285580-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10979882 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, particularly those with advanced disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage bile duct cancer or those with other types of cancer may not benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on finding effective treatments for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a challenging bile duct cancer with a very low survival rate. The team is exploring the role of the immune checkpoint protein B7-H4, which is found in high levels in many CCA cases, and how it interacts with the TGFβ pathway to promote tumor growth. By using advanced genetic techniques, the researchers aim to disrupt this process in animal models, potentially leading to new therapies that could improve patient outcomes. The study is designed to validate these findings and develop novel therapeutic strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment options that significantly improve survival rates for patients with bile duct cancer.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of targeting B7-H4 in cancer treatment is promising, this specific investigation into its role in cholangiocarcinoma is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sia, Daniela — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Sia, Daniela
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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A new mouse model to study intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and its immunotherapy
A new mouse model helps researchers understand intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and test immune-based treatments to improve outcomes.
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Radiation plus a patient’s own immune cells to boost cholangiocarcinoma treatment
This project tests a therapy that combines precise radiation and the patient’s own dendritic cells with immune drugs to help fight intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in people who cannot have surgery.
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Worldwide genetics of bile duct (cholangiocarcinoma)
Researchers are looking for genetic patterns that raise the risk of bile duct cancer in people from diverse regions worldwide.
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MKK4 and Liver Regeneration after Major Liver Surgery
A study at Mayo Clinic will test a new drug, HRX215, to help people regrow liver tissue after major liver surgery for cancer.
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New mouse model to improve immune therapy for intrahepatic bile duct (cholangiocarcinoma) cancer
This project builds a new mouse model to help make immune-based treatments work better for people with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, a type of bile duct liver cancer.
-
Mutant IDH in bile duct cancer and its impact on immune response
A patient-facing look at how mutations in IDH1 drive bile duct cancer and how targeting this mutation could help immune cells fight the tumor.
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.