CRISPR-engineering of human liver organoids to study fibrolamellar carcinoma

Timeframe: 2021 – 2022 Goal: Model development Principal Investigator: Benedetta Artegiani, PhD Study Overview: Research into FLC is complicated because of the limited experimental tools that can be used to study this rare cancer. While tests in laboratory animals such as mice are useful tools, they do not reflect the human disease due to inherent …

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Establishment of FLC cell line and xenograft from FLC tumor samples

Timeframe: 2010 – 2011 Goal: Develop useful disease models to support subsequent research efforts Principal Investigator: Yuzhou Wang, PhD Study overview: Availability of model system to replicate the disease is an essential tool in development of therapeutics. These model systems can be used by researchers for mechanistic investigations, rapid drug screening, and many other purposes. Model …

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Blood markers for fibrolamellar

Timeframe: 2010 Goal: Identify biomarkers for FLC Principal Investigator: Michael Torbenson, MD (Currently at Mayo Clinic) Study overview: Early identification of tumors is essential for aggressive treatment. The majority of fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) patients have metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, identification of biomarkers for FLC is essential. Using a broad collection of …

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A gene editing approach to develop new and effective models for FLC

Timeframe: 2021 Goal: Generate a mouse model of FLC Principal Investigator: Sean Ronnekleiv-Kelly, MD Study overview: The purpose of this study was to generate a robust pre-clinical murine model of FLC that can provide a basis for understanding factors contributing to FLC formation, and for therapeutic development. The study proposed to develop a mouse model …

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Development of a human-derived liver progenitor cell line with DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion gene

Timeframe: 2019 – 2021 Goal: Development of a novel human-derived liver progenitor cell line model of fibrolamellar carcinoma Principal Investigator: Khashayar Vakili, MD Study overview: Prior to this effort, the study team’s lab had previously engineered a kidney cell line (HEK-DP) which contains the DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion gene found in FLC tumors. This cell line demonstrated …

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