Understanding how Hepatitis B causes liver cancer
Official title: Hepatitis B virus integrations in KMT2B drive hepatocellular carcinoma
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11143851 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how the Hepatitis B virus changes a specific gene to cause liver cancer, hoping to find new ways to help patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 15, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $429,744 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA272578-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143851 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Hepatitis B-related liver cancer could potentially benefit from future treatments developed based on this fundamental understanding.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose liver cancer is not related to Hepatitis B virus infection may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Liver cancer caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a serious global health problem with limited treatment options. We've found that HBV can insert itself into a gene called KMT2B in liver cancer cells, which might be a key step in how the cancer develops. This project uses patient-derived cancer cells and special lab models to understand exactly how these HBV insertions lead to cancer growth. By uncovering this process, we hope to identify new targets for future medicines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the development of new treatments specifically targeting the way Hepatitis B causes liver cancer.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific role of KMT2B in HBV-related liver cancer is new, similar gene changes are known to drive other cancers like leukemia, suggesting a plausible mechanism.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cao, Jian — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Cao, Jian
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
This project will see if a blood test can find liver cancer earlier in Hispanic people who have chronic 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.
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HBV integrations in KMT2B may drive liver cancer
Aims to understand how hepatitis B can cause liver cancer by studying HBV inserts in the KMT2B gene and how these changes affect liver cells.
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Blood test to detect early liver cancer in Hispanic people with hepatitis B
This project looks at whether a blood-based panel of immune markers can find early liver cancer in Hispanic adults who have chronic hepatitis B.
-
Using blood tests to detect liver cancer in patients with hepatitis B in Nigeria.
This study is looking to create a simple blood test that can help find liver cancer in people with chronic hepatitis B by checking the levels of certain DNA in their immune cells, and it's for patients visiting gastroenterology clinics in Lagos, Nigeria.
-
Finding blood markers to detect liver cancer early in Hispanic patients with hepatitis B.
This study is looking for blood tests that can help predict if people with hepatitis B, especially those in the Hispanic community, might develop liver cancer early on, making it easier to catch and treat the disease before it gets serious.
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.