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Grant funds liver cancer research

A University of Iowa assistant research scientist in internal medicine is leading a study funded by a $30,000 American Cancer Society seed grant through Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at UI.

Dr. Zhaowen Zhu's team will study whether and how three hepatitis C proteins increase the activity of telomerase as a possible explanation for how hepatitis C causes cancer. Hepatitis C affects about four million Americans and causes liver cirrhosis. In some patients with this type of cirrhosis, liver cancer may develop, but how this happens is not clear.

Telomerase is an enzyme that promotes the longevity of most cells, including liver cells, and has been associated with the development of cancer.