Nanoparticle delivery of two drugs for liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)
Pre-IND Development of Polymeric Micelles with Dual Drug Payloads for HCC Therapy
A new nanoparticle that carries two drugs—one to target cancer stem cells and one to kill dividing tumor cells—for people with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11212170 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating tiny polymer micelles that hold cyclopamine to target cancer stem cells and paclitaxel to kill proliferating tumor cells. They will test these dual-drug micelles in laboratory experiments and animal models to study how the particles distribute in the body, release the drugs, and shrink or prevent tumors. The aim is to overcome treatment resistance and lower the chance of recurrence by hitting both stem-like and regular cancer cells. If preclinical results are promising, the work could support future early-phase clinical trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ultimately, adults with hepatocellular carcinoma—especially those whose tumors are resistant to current systemic therapies—would be the likely candidates for future trials based on this work.
Not a fit: People with other types of liver tumors, non-liver cancers, or those who cannot tolerate chemotherapy are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to more effective chemotherapy that overcomes drug resistance and reduces recurrence in liver cancer patients.
How similar studies have performed: Related nanoparticle drug-delivery strategies have shown promise in lab and animal studies, but dual-drug micelles targeting cancer stem cells plus paclitaxel remain largely preclinical and unproven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Chun — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Li, Chun
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 below.