Understanding how to improve immunotherapy responses in liver cancer linked to fatty liver disease
Official title: Determinants of immunotherapy response in NASH-Hepatocellular carcinoma
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10899678 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why people with liver cancer caused by fatty liver disease don't respond as well to immunotherapy, and it aims to find better treatment options by combining different therapies and identifying markers that can help predict who will benefit the most.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 4, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $455,518 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA273932-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10899678 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma stemming from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma not related to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates why patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) have lower responses to immunotherapy. The team will explore the role of specific immune cells and genetic factors that affect treatment outcomes. By combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with other targeted therapies, they aim to enhance the effectiveness of treatment for these patients. The study will also identify potential biomarkers that could predict which patients are likely to benefit from these therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options and outcomes for patients with liver cancer associated with fatty liver disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in enhancing immunotherapy responses through combination therapies, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Llovet, Josep M — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Llovet, Josep M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Determinants of immunotherapy response in NASH-related liver cancer
Aims to understand why some patients with NASH-related hepatocellular carcinoma respond differently to immunotherapy and to identify biomarkers that predict who benefits.
-
Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Platform for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
A Johns Hopkins study will test immune-based therapy given before surgery to shrink liver cancer and help prevent recurrence.
-
Predicting early harms and biomarkers in liver cancer patients treated with immunotherapy
This grant aims to identify early signs of serious side effects and find blood biomarkers that predict toxicity or good response in people with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immunotherapy.
-
Catheter-guided nanoparticle delivery of anti–PD-L1 immunotherapy to liver tumors
It delivers PD-L1 blocking immunotherapy directly into liver tumors through a catheter using nanoparticle carriers for people with hepatocellular carcinoma.
-
Image-guided device to deliver immunotherapy and heat to liver tumors
This project uses a special image-guided device to put immune-boosting medicine and controlled heat directly into liver tumors for people with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Why immunotherapy works less well for NASH-related liver cancer
This project tests whether adding drugs that block KIT/MAPK/Wnt pathways to immunotherapy helps people with NASH-related liver cancer respond better.
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.