Investigating how fat accumulation in the liver leads to liver cancer.
Official title: Jumonji enzyme action in hepatocellular carcinoma onset
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11013379 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how fat buildup in the liver can change liver cells and possibly lead to liver cancer, especially in people with conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and it hopes to find new ways to prevent or treat liver cancer for those at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $230,010 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA288895-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11013379 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
✕Less likely to help
Patients without fatty liver disease or those with other types of liver conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the molecular changes that occur in liver cells due to fat accumulation, which can lead to liver cancer, specifically hepatocellular carcinoma. It aims to explore the connection between altered energy metabolism and epigenetic changes in liver cells, particularly in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The study will establish metabolic biomarkers and target specific vulnerabilities that arise during the progression to liver cancer. By examining the role of certain enzymes that modify chromatin, the research seeks to identify potential therapeutic strategies to prevent or treat liver cancer in at-risk patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new prevention and treatment strategies for liver cancer in patients with fatty liver disease.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in targeting metabolic and epigenetic pathways in cancer treatment, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martinez, Elisabeth D — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Martinez, Elisabeth D
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Glutamine and macrophage behavior in liver cancer
A funded project at a medical university aims to understand how the liver’s immune cells interact with a specific type of liver cancer by looking at metabolism, especially glutamine and ammonia.
-
Adding PSMA PET/CT imaging to liver cancer care for veterans
This project tests a new PET imaging approach to help diagnose and guide treatment for liver cancer in veterans.
-
Blood markers to catch early liver cancer in Hispanic people with hepatitis B
This project will see if a blood test can find liver cancer earlier in Hispanic people who have chronic hepatitis B.
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Early blood markers to find hepatitis B–related liver cancer in Hispanics
This project will use immune-related blood markers to find liver cancer earlier in people with chronic hepatitis B, focusing on Hispanic adults.
-
Towards a blood-based test using nanophotonic exosomes to screen and diagnose liver cancer
A new blood test using tiny particles shed by liver cancer cells aims to screen for hepatocellular carcinoma earlier and more accurately.
-
Metabolic imaging to guide targeted therapy for liver cancer
A clinician-scientist at UPenn is pursuing training to use metabolic imaging to tailor therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.
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.