Role of metabolic stress in NASH-related liver cancer
Official title: Role of hypernutrition and metabolic stress in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) driven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
Funded at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute · NIH-11418957 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how metabolic stress linked to NASH may drive liver cancer and looks for ways to interrupt that process to help patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,272,153 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA281819-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418957 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with NASH and at risk for liver cancer, or those with early HCC, could be relevant for future trials or biomarker studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without NASH or without risk factors for liver cancer may not directly benefit from the study.
What this research studies
If this research succeeds, it could reveal how stress-related changes in glucose, fat, and cholesterol metabolism push NASH patients toward liver cancer and identify targets to slow or stop that progression. The team will study signals between the cytosol, nucleus, ER, and mitochondria to understand how these parts communicate to worsen disease. They will use mouse models and molecular analyses to map how key players like AKT, NRF2, and ATF6 interact and how these interactions affect tumor development. The work aims to find new strategies to intercept HCC at stages when patients still have treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: In the best case, the findings could lead to new targets and therapies that prevent or slow NASH-driven liver cancer in people.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data in mice suggest that disrupting these pathways can attenuate HCC progression, supporting potential benefit from similar approaches in humans.
Where this research is happening
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Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karin, Michael — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Study coordinator: Karin, Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How overeating and metabolic stress drive NASH-related liver cancer
This research looks at how excess nutrition and cell stress change liver metabolism and push NASH (fatty liver disease) toward liver cancer, with the goal of finding points to stop that process.
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Investigating how metabolic stress contributes to liver cancer development
This study is looking at how extra weight and changes in metabolism might affect the growth of liver cancer in people with fatty liver disease, and it aims to find ways to slow down or prevent this cancer from getting worse.
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Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Platform for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
A Johns Hopkins study will test immune-based therapy given before surgery to shrink liver cancer and help prevent recurrence.
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Using immunotherapy before surgery to improve outcomes in liver cancer
This study is looking at how giving immunotherapy before surgery can help boost the immune system's ability to fight liver cancer, and it's for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who are preparing for surgery.
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Testing a pig model for liver cancer treatments
This study is testing a special type of pig that has been genetically modified to develop liver cancer like humans do, to help find better treatments for people with liver cancer by seeing how different genetic changes respond to targeted therapies.
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Using advanced imaging to better understand liver cancer
This study is looking at new ways to spot and treat liver cancer using advanced imaging techniques, which could help doctors understand your cancer better and find the best treatment just for you.
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.