Targeting specific immune cells to improve treatment for childhood liver cancer.
Official title: Targeting CXCR2+ PMN-MDSCs for immunotherapy of hepatoblastoma
Funded at University of Hawaii at Manoa · NIH-11115204 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain immune cells might make it harder to treat hepatoblastoma, a type of liver cancer in kids, and aims to find out if getting rid of these cells can help make treatments work better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Manoa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Honolulu, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $402,400 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA292251-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11115204 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, particularly those who may not respond well to traditional chemotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of cancer or those who are not diagnosed with hepatoblastoma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on hepatoblastoma, the most common liver cancer in children, which can be deadly despite its low incidence. The study investigates the role of neutrophilic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs) in the tumor environment and how they may hinder effective treatment. By depleting these immune cells in a mouse model, researchers observed smaller tumors and enhanced immune responses. The goal is to understand how certain cancer genes attract these cells and to explore whether targeting them can improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective immunotherapy options for children with hepatoblastoma, potentially improving survival rates and reducing treatment side effects.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific targeting of PMN-MDSCs in hepatoblastoma is a novel approach, similar strategies targeting immune cells have shown promise in other cancer types.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Honolulu, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Xin — University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Study coordinator: Chen, Xin
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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.