Targeting vulnerabilities in liver cancer treatment
Official title: ExpLoiting thErapeutic VulnerAbilities in hepaTocEllular carcinoma (ELEVATE)
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-10849086 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to find better treatment options for liver cancer in people who have obesity-related liver disease, by understanding how the cancer behaves differently in these patients and testing new combination therapies that might work better than what we have now.
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 start | August 8, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $2,678,459 |
| NIH project number | 1P01CA275740-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10849086 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, especially those with obesity-related liver disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage liver cancer or those whose cancer is not related to obesity may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), particularly in patients with obesity-related liver disease. It aims to explore the molecular changes in HCC and develop new combinatorial therapies that could be more effective than current treatments. The project involves multiple components, including a mouse model for testing and a core team dedicated to biostatistics and bioinformatics to analyze data. By understanding the unique characteristics of HCC in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the research seeks to create tailored treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatment options for patients with advanced liver cancer, potentially improving survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting molecular vulnerabilities in cancer, suggesting that this approach could yield significant advancements in treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sarkar, Devanand — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Sarkar, Devanand
Related research
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A new blood test using tiny particles shed by liver cancer cells aims to screen for hepatocellular carcinoma earlier and more accurately.
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A clinician-scientist at UPenn is pursuing training to use metabolic imaging to tailor therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.
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.