Liver Cancer SPORE at UT Southwestern: new paths to prevention and treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma
Official title: UT Southwestern Liver Cancer SPORE
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11406288 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A dedicated UT Southwestern effort aims to reduce deaths from liver cancer by combining basic science with clinical trials to prevent cancer in high-risk patients and improve treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,513,300 |
| NIH project number | 5P50CA295495-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11406288 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cirrhosis at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer, and individuals eligible for the EGFR-inhibitor prevention strategy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cirrhosis or those not at risk for HCC or eligible for the proposed prevention approach may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant brings together scientists from basic biology, clinical research, and translational science to tackle liver cancer, especially hepatocellular carcinoma. It includes a phase II clinical trial testing low-dose erlotinib to prevent liver cancer in people with cirrhosis and explores strategies to overcome resistance to immune therapies. The project emphasizes personalized medicine, using discoveries from the lab to tailor prevention and treatment approaches for patients with liver disease. By linking molecular insights with patient care, the team hopes to lower liver cancer mortality and improve outcomes for those at risk. The work spans prevention, early intervention, and innovative therapeutic strategies that could change how liver cancer is managed in the long term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could see fewer liver cancer cases and better survival with more effective, personalized prevention and treatment options.
How similar studies have gone: Previous liver cancer prevention and targeted therapy efforts have shown promise in early results, justifying the next phase of clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singal, Amit — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Singal, Amit
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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.