FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 26, 2024
CONTACT: Daniel Jacobs
press@sciencecoalition.org

TSC

The Science Coalition Applauds Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Iowa for Securing $13 Million Grant to Advance Liver Cancer Treatment  

Funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will support five years of liver cancer treatment research and help advance drug development

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Science Coalition (TSC) congratulates Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the University of Iowa for their critical contributions to advancing treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. Supported by a $13 million, five-year grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), this collaborative effort aims to uncover innovative drug combinations to improve outcomes for liver cancer patients spearheaded by VCU’s Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Liver cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, and HCC is often diagnosed at advanced stages, when treatment options are scarce. This new research project – led by experts at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, with critical contributions from the University of Iowa and other collaborators. – takes a comprehensive, four-pronged approach to addressing HCC:

  • Obesity-Linked Liver Cancer: Obesity and poor diet can lead to a severe form of liver disease called Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), which increases the risk of liver cancer. Researchers Dr. Arun Sanyal, Director of VCU’s Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health, and Dr. Huiping Zhou, a member of VCU Massey’s Cancer Biology research program, are studying how a specific protein, MYC, influences this process. Their work focuses on combining existing drugs with a new MYC inhibitor to see if they can stop liver cancer fueled by obesity.
  • Gene Collaboration in Liver Tumors: Dr. Devanand Sarkar, Associate Director of Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination at VCU Massey, is studying how two genes, MYC and TAF2, work together to drive liver cancer. By blocking these genes with targeted drugs and immune-boosting therapies, his team hopes to slow or stop tumor growth altogether.
  • Antibody-Driven Approaches: Antibodies are molecules that help the immune system target and destroy harmful cells. Dr. Shawn Wang, Co-Leader of the Developmental Therapeutics research program at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, is testing whether combining antibodies with MYC inhibitors can make treatments more effective at stopping liver cancer progression.
  • Immunotherapy with Fusion Cytokines: Dr. Paul Fisher, a member of the Cancer Biology research program and Thelma Newmeyer Corman Endowed Chair in Oncology Research at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, is developing a special drug called a fusion cytokine, which attacks cancer cells while also rallying the body’s immune system to fight back. By pairing this approach with the MYC inhibitor, his team hopes to create a powerful tool to combat liver tumors.

As part of the collaboration between VCU and the University of Iowa, a team of researchers led by Dr. Aliasger Salem, Ph.D. – the Lyle and Sharon Bighley Endowed Chair and Professor in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Iowa – is focusing on improving how cancer drugs are delivered to liver tumors. With $377,000 in funding from the NCI, Dr. Salem’s team will develop nanoparticles that carry medicine directly to cancer cells. This novel approach could make treatments more precise and reduce side effects for patients.

“This project has the potential to transform how liver cancer is treated,” said Dr. Salem.

“This grant embodies the power of team science,” said Dr. Sarkar. “Together, we are asking questions that have never been asked before and combining expertise in ways that could redefine the future of liver cancer treatment.”

“The groundbreaking work conducted by VCU and the University of Iowa shows how America’s higher education institutions – catalyzed by federal investments in scientific research – are working together to advance our understanding of certain cancers and improving the range of tools and interventions we have to treat them,” said Jill Pentimonti, president of The Science Coalition. “With robust and sustain federal funding, our colleges and universities can continue uncovering innovative treatments for some of the world’s most deadly and complex forms of cancer.”

See here to learn more about Virginia Commonwealth University’s grant award.

See here to learn more about University of Iowa’s recent funding from the National Cancer Institute.

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About The Science Coalition (TSC)

The Science Coalition is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of more than 50 of the nation’s leading public and private research universities. It is dedicated to sustaining the federal government’s investment in basic scientific research to stimulate the economy, spur innovation, and drive America’s global competitiveness. Learn more at www.sciencecoalition.org.