Preventing liver cancer in patients with fatty liver disease
Chemoprevention of HCC related to MAFLD
This study is looking at whether three common medications—statins, metformin, and glitazones—can help prevent liver cancer in people with fatty liver disease, and it aims to find out how these drugs might affect your liver health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10874534 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the potential of three commonly used medications—statins, metformin, and glitazones—to prevent hepatocellular cancer (HCC) in individuals suffering from metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). The study aims to evaluate both the benefits and potential harms of these therapies, particularly focusing on their effects on liver health. By utilizing a well-characterized national cohort of MAFLD patients, the research will analyze extensive clinical data to understand how these medications may help reduce the risk of liver cancer. This approach is novel as it specifically targets chemoprevention in the context of MAFLD, an area that has not been thoroughly explored before.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals aged 65 and older who have been diagnosed with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).
Not a fit: Patients without MAFLD or those who are younger than 65 years old may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective preventive therapies for liver cancer in patients with fatty liver disease.
How similar studies have performed: While this specific approach to chemoprevention in MAFLD is novel, similar studies have shown promise in using these medications for other metabolic disorders.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kanwal, Fasiha — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Kanwal, Fasiha
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.