Vaccine to block liver fluke–linked bile duct cancer
Anti-cancer vaccine targeting the host-parasite interface during fluke infection
A vaccine designed to stop liver fluke infections that greatly raise the risk of bile duct cancer in people living in affected regions like Northeast Thailand.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11416186 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing a multivalent vaccine that targets proteins and extracellular vesicles the liver fluke releases to survive and manipulate the bile duct environment. The team will identify which parasite-secreted molecules are most important for host-parasite communication and prioritize those as vaccine antigens. Laboratory and preclinical tests will measure immune responses to those antigens and whether they reduce fluke survival or fluke-driven tissue changes. Promising candidates would then be moved toward clinical testing in populations where the parasite is common.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people living in or from areas where Opisthorchis viverrini is common, especially those with known exposure to liver flukes or at high risk of infection.
Not a fit: People whose bile duct cancer is unrelated to liver fluke infection, or those with very advanced disease, are unlikely to benefit from this preventive vaccine.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this vaccine could prevent liver fluke infection and substantially lower bile duct cancer rates in endemic communities.
How similar studies have performed: Vaccines against parasitic worms are challenging and while related antigen-based approaches have shown promise in animal models, they have not yet been proven to prevent fluke-driven bile duct cancer in humans.
Where this research is happening
Washington, United States
- George Washington University — Washington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brindley, Paul J — George Washington University
- Study coordinator: Brindley, Paul J
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 below.