Using immunotherapy before surgery to improve outcomes in liver cancer
Official title: Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Platform Study Reveals Mechanisms of Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11093523 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how giving immunotherapy before surgery can help boost the immune system's ability to fight liver cancer, and it's for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who are preparing for surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $673,789 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA285544-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11093523 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma who are scheduled for surgical resection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced liver cancer or those who are not candidates for surgery may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of neoadjuvant immunotherapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a common type of liver cancer. The study aims to enhance the body's immune response against tumors by administering immunotherapy before surgical removal of the cancer. It will evaluate different combinations of treatments, including anti-PD1 therapies, to understand how they affect tumor response and immune function. By analyzing tumor samples, researchers hope to uncover mechanisms that contribute to treatment success or resistance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies that reduce the risk of cancer recurrence after surgery for liver cancer patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results with neoadjuvant immunotherapy in other cancers, suggesting potential for success in this approach for liver cancer.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yarchoan, Mark — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Yarchoan, Mark
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
Role of metabolic stress in NASH-related liver cancer
This grant explores how metabolic stress linked to NASH may drive liver cancer and looks for ways to interrupt that process to help patients.
-
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.
-
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.
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.