Targeting immune cells that help liver tumors hide
A Novel Target in The Tumor Myeloid Compartment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
This project looks at a protein on certain immune cells and aims to use antibodies to help people with hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) respond better to immunotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159531 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are focusing on a protein called SRA/CD204 that sits on immune cells inside liver tumors and may stop the immune system from attacking cancer. They will study how blocking this protein changes tumor immunity using engineered mouse models and lab experiments. The team plans to develop and test antibodies against SRA and try them together with existing immune checkpoint drugs like anti-PD-1. If the lab results are promising, this work could lead to future early-phase clinical trials testing the new combination in people with liver cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), especially those receiving or considered for immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment, would be the likely candidates for future trials based on this work.
Not a fit: People without liver cancer or whose tumors do not rely on immune-suppressing myeloid cells are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make immunotherapy work for more people with liver cancer and produce longer tumor control.
How similar studies have performed: Targeting suppressive myeloid cells is an emerging strategy with encouraging animal data, but targeting SRA/CD204 is relatively novel and not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Richmond, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Xiang-Yang Shawn — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Wang, Xiang-Yang Shawn
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.