Grant: Collaborative Health Research Projects (NSERC partnered)

Liver cancer is currently difficult to treat and the required amount of chemotherapeutics to successfully treat this cancer is high. In this project, we plan to remove the liver from the host and infuse the liver with a nanoparticle that contains the cancer-fighting drug 5-fluorouracil and that can target macrophage tumor infiltrating cells. These cells support the survival of the tumor system. This nanocontainer infused liver will be re-implanted into the animal. The nanoparticle breaks apart after 2-3 weeks to release the drug and kill the macrophage tumor infiltrating cells and therefore, destroying the tumor. This should lead to an increase in the survival of the animal. Our commercial partner specializes in developing drugs and proteins that can target liver cancer cells. Combining the expertise of the Therapure Biopharma with the unique expertise of researchers in nanotechnology, liver, surgery, and physics from the academic side will lead to new strategies to treat liver cancer.