Targeted delivery of immune therapy for liver cancer treatment
Official title: Transcatheter Intra-Arterial Delivery of Oriented Anti-PD-L1 Immune checkpoint inhibitors Immobilized Nanocarriers for Local Combination Immunotherapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-11062425 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to treat liver cancer by using tiny carriers to deliver immune therapy right to the tumor, which could make the treatment work better and cause fewer side effects, and patients may have a chance to try this promising approach for better results.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $321,095 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA278956-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11062425 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma who are not suitable for surgical resection or transplantation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma who can undergo surgical resection or transplantation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a common and deadly liver cancer. It investigates a method to deliver immune checkpoint inhibitors directly to the tumor site using specialized nanocarriers, which may enhance the effectiveness of the therapy while minimizing side effects. By combining this targeted approach with local ablation therapies, the research aims to overcome the challenges of the tumor microenvironment that often limits the success of traditional immunotherapy. Patients may have the opportunity to participate in innovative treatment strategies that could lead to better outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more effective treatment option for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, potentially improving survival rates and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using localized immunotherapy approaches for cancer treatment, indicating that this method may build on successful strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Dong-Hyun — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Kim, Dong-Hyun
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Catheter-guided nanoparticle delivery of anti–PD-L1 immunotherapy to liver tumors
It delivers PD-L1 blocking immunotherapy directly into liver tumors through a catheter using nanoparticle carriers for people with hepatocellular carcinoma.
-
Determinants of immunotherapy response in NASH-related liver cancer
Aims to understand why some patients with NASH-related hepatocellular carcinoma respond differently to immunotherapy and to identify biomarkers that predict who benefits.
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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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Predicting early harms and biomarkers in liver cancer patients treated with immunotherapy
This grant aims to identify early signs of serious side effects and find blood biomarkers that predict toxicity or good response in people with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immunotherapy.
-
Image-guided device to deliver immunotherapy and heat to liver tumors
This project uses a special image-guided device to put immune-boosting medicine and controlled heat directly into liver tumors for people with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Why immunotherapy works less well for NASH-related liver cancer
This project tests whether adding drugs that block KIT/MAPK/Wnt pathways to immunotherapy helps people with NASH-related liver cancer respond better.
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.