Mini-livers reveal secrets of fatty liver disease gene
NCT ID NCT06856252
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study uses tiny, lab-grown liver models (organoids) made from patient cells to understand how a specific gene variant (I148M of PNPLA3) contributes to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a serious fatty liver disease. Researchers will expose these mini-livers to fatty acids, fructose, and cholesterol to mimic the disease and test potential treatments. The goal is to find new biomarkers and better understand the disease's early steps, not to directly treat participants.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 60 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2021
- Expected to finish
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Jul 2032
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Adult patients who have given consent to participate in the study and listed for the following procedures will be included: * liver biopsy for suspected non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) at the time of diagnosis; * liver resection for hepatocarcinoma or other liver lesions (including secondaries from other neoplasms and benign focal lesions, which will allow obtaining healthy starting liver tissue); * post-transplant healthy liver biopsies; * cholecystectomies. It will also be required: * availability to sign informed consent for the study * availability of DNA sample for genetic analysis and clinical data, * blood sampling for genetic and epigenetic analyzes and analysis of non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs, miRNAs and circRNAs). Patients will be excluded who present: * positivity for chronic viral hepatitis (HCV-RNA and/or HBsAg); * positivity to other liver diseases such as autoimmune and viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and C), hereditary hemochromatosis, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, Wilson's disease.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico di natura pubblica
RECRUITINGMilan, Milano, 20122, Italy
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