Why melanoma spreads to the liver and resists immunotherapy
Mechanisms of liver metastasis and associated resistance to immunotherapy
This work looks for the biological reasons melanoma spreads to the liver and why those liver tumors often do not respond to immunotherapy, to help people with metastatic melanoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11129064 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers use a mouse model that mimics how melanoma spreads to the liver and how those liver tumors behave during treatment. They run large-scale CRISPR-Cas9 gene screens in these models to find genes and pathways that drive liver-specific metastasis. The team also compares genomic data from human liver metastasis samples to the mouse findings to pinpoint mechanisms linked to resistance to immune checkpoint drugs. Ultimately the goal is to identify targets that could be tested to improve immunotherapy response for liver metastases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with melanoma that has metastasized to the liver or those providing tumor tissue from liver metastases.
Not a fit: Patients with early-stage melanoma confined to the skin or without liver involvement are unlikely to see direct benefits from this specific project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets or strategies to make immunotherapy work better for patients with melanoma that has spread to the liver.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows liver metastases often respond poorly to immunotherapy and some genes linked to metastasis have been found, but applying a large in vivo CRISPR screen focused on liver-specific melanoma spread is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Izar, Benjamin — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Izar, Benjamin
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.