Investigating new treatment pathways for a deadly liver cancer
Official title: Exploring novel SRC-regulated pathways in IDH mutant intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-11044148 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a type of liver cancer called intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and is testing a new approach to treatment that uses a drug called dasatinib for patients whose tumors have certain genetic changes, hoping to find better options than standard chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $402,600 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA255015-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11044148 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who have mutations in the IDH gene.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who do not have IDH mutations may not benefit from this targeted therapy approach.
What this research studies
This research focuses on intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), a severe form of liver cancer that is becoming more common and has a poor prognosis. The study aims to identify targeted therapies for patients with specific genetic mutations in their tumors, particularly those involving the IDH gene. By using laboratory models, the researchers have found that a drug called dasatinib can effectively kill cancer cells with these mutations. The goal is to shift treatment from traditional chemotherapy to more effective targeted therapies that could improve patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and less toxic treatment options for patients with IDH mutant intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results with targeted therapies for similar genetic mutations in various cancers, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kugel, Sita — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Kugel, Sita
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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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.
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Understanding how tumor variety affects bile duct cancer (iCCA)
Researchers will study how differences within a single tumor and between primary and metastatic sites influence disease progression and treatment response in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, using human samples and mouse models.
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Using radiation and your own immune cells to boost immunotherapy for intrahepatic bile-duct (liver) cancer
This approach combines focused liver radiation, injections of your own dendritic immune cells, and two immune drugs to try to help people with unresectable intrahepatic bile-duct cancer live longer without the disease getting worse.
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Noninvasive methods to identify mutations in liver cancer
This study is looking for better ways to diagnose a type of liver cancer called intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) by using noninvasive methods to check for important genetic changes, which can help doctors choose the best treatment for patients.
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.