Investigating immune signaling in a rare liver cancer affecting children and young adults
Official title: Innate Immune Signaling in Fibrolamellar Carcinoma
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-10707605 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a rare type of liver cancer called Fibrolamellar Carcinoma, mainly affecting kids and young adults, to learn how a specific gene change causes the cancer and how the immune system responds, with the hope of finding better treatments for those affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $177,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03CA270278-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10707605 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and young adults diagnosed with Fibrolamellar Carcinoma.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of liver cancer or those who are not within the pediatric age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on Fibrolamellar Carcinoma (FLC), a rare liver cancer that primarily affects children and young adults. The study aims to understand the mechanisms by which a specific genetic alteration leads to cancer development, using advanced techniques like CRISPR/Cas9 to create liver organoids that mimic the disease. By analyzing these organoids, researchers hope to uncover how the immune system interacts with cancer cells, which could lead to new treatment strategies. The research is particularly relevant given the limited effective treatment options currently available for FLC patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic approaches for treating Fibrolamellar Carcinoma, improving outcomes for affected patients.
How similar studies have gone: While research on Fibrolamellar Carcinoma is limited, similar approaches using genetic engineering in cancer research have shown promise in other malignancies.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hansen, Steen Henning — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Hansen, Steen Henning
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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.