| Project Detail |
Novel therapy for liver cancer could improve prognosis More than 600 000 people die annually from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the main type of primary liver cancer. HCC is associated with a variety of risk factors (including hepatitis B, hepatitis C and heavy drinking), but most cases occur in low- and middle-resource countries as a result of exposure to toxins. These regions also have reduced access to surveillance, resulting in advanced disease, for which few treatment options are currently available. mTORC1 is a protein complex involved in cellular signalling. Its inhibitors are approved for some advanced cancers, but not HCC, partially due to problems with its efficacy and specificity. The EU-funded inhibiTOR project has developed an assay to identify better mTORC1 inhibitors and test them in vitro, both alone and in combination with currently approved treatment. Better HCC treatment options would significantly enhance the quality and length of life of HCC patients. |
