The Lead Investigator: Grant Barish, MD, Martha Leland Sherwin Professor, Associate Professor, Medicine (Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine)
The Issue:
Liver cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, and the number of cases continues to rise as obesity and fatty liver disease become more common. Because current treatments have limited success, new approaches are urgently needed.
The Project:
This research is studying a naturally occurring liver protein called A1BG, which may help protect the liver from developing cancer. Early research has shown that people with higher levels of A1BG tend to have better outcomes after a liver cancer diagnosis, making it a promising area for further study.
Researchers will investigate whether increasing A1BG can slow or prevent liver cancer and learn more about how it protects the liver. They will also explore how the protein affects inflammation, fat buildup, and other changes that can lead to cancer.
The Impact:
If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat liver cancer, giving hope to people at high risk and improving outcomes for patients facing this devastating disease.