Preventing Liver Cancer in People with Fatty Liver Disease
Chemoprevention of HCC related to MAFLD
This work looks at whether common medications like statins, metformin, and glitazones can help prevent liver cancer in people with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).
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-11146339 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a growing cause of liver cancer in the U.S., and currently, there are no specific treatments for it. This project explores whether certain existing medications, known as chemopreventive agents, could offer a practical way to stop liver cancer from developing. We are looking at three types of drugs—statins, metformin, and glitazones—because they affect important pathways in MAFLD and are already widely used. The goal is to understand both the potential benefits and any possible harms of these medications for preventing liver cancer in individuals with MAFLD.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future clinical applications of this research would be individuals diagnosed with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) who are at risk for developing liver cancer.
Not a fit: Patients without MAFLD or those already diagnosed with advanced liver cancer may not directly benefit from this specific chemoprevention approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify existing medications that can prevent liver cancer in individuals with MAFLD, offering a new strategy to improve patient outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: To our knowledge, no previous study has specifically examined liver cancer chemoprevention in MAFLD using these medications, making this a novel approach.
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.