New digital scores to evaluate liver cancer treatment response
Official title: Novel circulating biomarker digital scores for assessing treatment response in liver cancer
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-10651050 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to create new ways to check how well treatments are working for people with liver cancer, using advanced technology to analyze tiny particles and specific markers in the blood, so patients and their doctors can get clearer information about their progress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $436,472 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA280444-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10651050 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma who have undergone treatment such as local ablation or TACE.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with liver cancer who are not receiving treatment or those with other types of cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving the assessment of treatment response in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after therapies like local ablation and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). It aims to develop novel circulating biomarker digital scores that utilize advanced technologies to analyze extracellular vesicles and specific mRNA markers related to HCC. By enhancing the accuracy of treatment response evaluations, this research seeks to provide more reliable information for patients and their healthcare providers. The approach combines innovative purification and quantification methods to better understand how well treatments are working.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate assessments of treatment effectiveness for liver cancer, potentially improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using digital scoring and biomarker analysis for cancer treatment evaluation, indicating a potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Ju Dong — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Yang, Ju Dong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
AI-powered liver cancer screening using ultrasound blood flow patterns
A new AI-based method analyzes liver blood flow signals to help detect liver cancer early in people with liver disease, especially in settings with limited resources.
-
Aging and liver cancer: new ways to prevent and fight hepatocellular carcinoma
This research explores how aging promotes liver cancer and tests new preventive approaches that could help people at higher risk due to age.
-
Testing new therapies for pediatric and young adult sarcoma, kidney, and liver cancers
Researchers are testing new drugs and smart combinations in models of pediatric cancers to help guide future treatments for kids and young adults.
-
Liver cancer prevention and care in Uganda using HIV clinic networks
A program in Uganda uses existing HIV care systems to roll out liver cancer prevention, screening, and treatment strategies tailored to local needs.
-
Leveraging HIV care to prevent liver cancer in Uganda
A program in Uganda uses existing HIV care clinics to roll out a liver cancer prevention and treatment plan tailored to local needs.
-
Damaged telomeres and telomerase in liver scarring and liver cancer
Using human stem-cell models, researchers look at how short telomeres and telomerase changes can lead to liver scarring and liver cancer for people with telomere-related risks.
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.