CIC bioGUNE researchers discover a new way to treat a rare and aggressive form of liver cancer

An international study led by Dr Malu Martínez-Chantar, principal investigator at CIC bioGUNE, has identified a new therapeutic target for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a rare but highly aggressive liver cancer with very limited treatment options.

Cholangiocarcinoma is often diagnosed late and is highly resistant to treatment. Only 20-30% of patients are eligible for surgery, and survival rates remain low even after complete tumour removal. This urgent clinical challenge motivated the team to explore new strategies.

The study reveals that the protein CNNM4, responsible for magnesium transport within cells, is consistently overexpressed in cholangiocarcinoma. By blocking CNNM4, the research team was able to slow tumour growth, reduce resistance to chemotherapy, and prevent the spread of tumour cells. In addition, restoring magnesium balance activated ferroptosis, a natural process that selectively eliminates cancer cells while increasing their sensitivity to treatment.

‘Our work not only uncovers a promising therapeutic pathway, but also shows the potential of combining molecular biology with cutting-edge drug delivery technologies to bring us closer to personalised medicine for patients,’ explains Dr Malu Martínez-Chantar, lead author of the study.