Targeting the liver enzyme CYP8B1 to treat liver cancer (HCC)
Discovery and validation of CYP8B1 Inhibitors as probes for targeting Hepatocellular Carcinomas (HCC)
This project is developing new drugs that block a liver enzyme called CYP8B1 to help people with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11320854 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will design and screen small-molecule inhibitors that block the liver enzyme CYP8B1. They will test promising compounds in lab biochemical assays and in animal models to see how blocking CYP8B1 changes bile acid profiles, gut microbes, metabolism, and tumor growth. The team will validate the best compounds as probes to show whether inhibiting CYP8B1 can trigger cancer cell death and slow HCC progression. Successful preclinical work would support moving the most promising candidates toward human testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), especially those with metabolism-associated HCC or who have limited benefit from current kinase-targeted therapies, would be the most likely candidates for future trials.
Not a fit: Patients without HCC, with other types of cancer, or those needing immediate standard-of-care treatment are unlikely to benefit from this early-stage laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce a new type of targeted drug that slows or shrinks liver tumors and may improve survival with a favorable safety profile.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and preliminary lab data show that loss of CYP8B1 can improve bile acid balance, alter gut microbiota, and reduce tumor development, but using drugs to target CYP8B1 in humans is a new approach.
Where this research is happening
Duarte, United States
- Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope — Duarte, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Wendong — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Huang, Wendong
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.