Understanding how certain liver cancers evade the immune system to improve treatment options
Official title: Investigating Immunosuppression in Beta-catenin-mutated Hepatocellular Carcinoma for Improved Precision Medicine Therapeutics
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10993575 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain gene changes in liver cancer can make it harder for immune treatments to work, and it's trying to find new ways to help the immune system fight this cancer better, especially for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $53,974 |
| NIH project number | 5F30CA284540-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10993575 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma, particularly those with beta-catenin mutations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of liver cancer or those without beta-catenin mutations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of liver cancer that often does not respond well to current immune therapies. The study focuses on understanding how mutations in a specific gene, CTNNB1, create an immunosuppressive environment that hinders the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors. By using innovative mouse models that mimic human HCC, the researchers aim to identify new therapeutic strategies that could enhance the immune response against these tumors. The ultimate goal is to develop biomarker-driven treatments that can better target and stratify patients for more effective therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, potentially increasing survival rates.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in targeting immunosuppressive mechanisms in cancer, suggesting that this approach could yield significant advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lehrich, Brandon — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Lehrich, Brandon
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Blood markers to catch early liver cancer in Hispanic people with hepatitis B
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Early blood markers to find hepatitis B–related liver cancer in Hispanics
This project will use immune-related blood markers to find liver cancer earlier in people with chronic hepatitis B, focusing on Hispanic adults.
-
Towards a blood-based test using nanophotonic exosomes to screen and diagnose liver cancer
A new blood test using tiny particles shed by liver cancer cells aims to screen for hepatocellular carcinoma earlier and more accurately.
-
Metabolic imaging to guide targeted therapy for liver cancer
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.