By Heriberto Perez–Zuñiga

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – OCTOBER 27, 2025 – The team knows the statistics by heart.

In a region where liver cancer strikes at rates more commonly seen in developing countries, a team of researchers at the UTRGV School of Medicine spend their days searching for answers in the smallest building blocks of life. 

According to research published in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences, Texas has the highest hepatocellular carcinoma incidence rate of all states: 13.2 per 100,000 people, which is 45% higher than the national average. In the Rio Grande Valley, poverty, diabetes and chronic stress intersect, resulting in even more sobering statistics. 

Under the leadership of Dr. Subhash Chauhan, director of the South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research (ST-CECR), alongside Dr. Murali Yallapu, associate professor in the Division of Cancer & Immunology, and Dr. Everardo Cobos, interim dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine, medical oncologist and hematologist at UT Health RGV, a comprehensive research program is tackling the crisis from multiple angles. 

“Considering the significant burden of liver cancer in the Rio Grande Valley, we are conducting world-class research on liver cancer,” Chauhan said. “Our researchers aim to understand liver cancer etiology, develop new diagnostic methods and new targeted therapies that can be effective for the Valley population and beyond.”

October is Liver Cancer Awareness Month, and the work being done at ST-CECR represents hope for a community where too many families receive devastating diagnoses too late.

RESEARCH MOMENTUM

The center, supported by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, is advancing innovative research projects that address different aspects of liver cancer:

• Debashish Bandyopadhyay, associate professor at the UTRGV School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences, is developing new targeted drugs that block specific proteins aiding cancer cell growth.
• Manish Tripathi, associate professor of immunology and microbiology at the UTRGV School of Medicine, is identifying genetic markers that could detect liver cancer in its earliest stages, in collaboration with postdoctoral researcher Dr. Mohammed S. Hussain.
• Sheema Khan, assistant professor in the Division of Immunology and Microbiology at the UTRGV School of Medicine, is investigating how bacteria and other microorganisms may influence liver cancer progression.
• Narakar Sahoo, associate professor in the UTRGV School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Science, is studying specialized proteins in cell membranes to understand their role in liver cancer development.

Together, these projects represent a comprehensive approach to finding solutions for one of South Texas's most pressing health challenges. 

“Our research team is looking at this disease from different aspects including environmental, socio-behavioral, dietary and molecular factors,” Chauhan said. “This multi-pronged approach is important for developing strategies that work specifically for our community.”

The center is also developing a unique RGV population-focused tumor bank, a critical resource for understanding how liver cancer affects local communities specifically. 

Liver cancer, primarily hepatocellular carcinoma, often develops silently with few early symptoms. By the time patients experience fatigue, abdominal pain, or unexplained weight loss, the disease has frequently progressed to advanced stages, limiting treatment options.

According to the American Cancer Society:

• Liver cancer rates have more than tripled since 1980.
• Risk factors include diabetes, obesity,and chronic stress, which disproportionately affect Valley residents.
• Many cases stem from underlying liver damage caused by fatty liver disease, which has reached epidemic levels in South Texas.

“Many cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, limiting treatment options and reducing survival rates,” Chauhan said. “Our job is to change that through early detection and targeted prevention.” 

NATIONAL INVESTMENT

Last fall, UTRGV received an $18.4 million NIH grant to establish the Rio Grande Valley Cancer Health Disparity Research Center. The center aims to reduce cancer health disparities in underserved Hispanic communities through the NIH's Research Centers in Minority Institutions program.

“Receiving the NIH grant of this magnitude is a testament of the cancer and liver cancer problem the RGV region is facing,” Chauhan said. “It is important that this kind of cutting-edge cancer and liver cancer research is happening here at UTRGV, in the Rio Grande Valley.”

The funding has attracted renowned researchers to the region, expanding research capacity while creating opportunities for the next generation of scientists. 

“What excites me most is that we're building something lasting here,” he said. “We're conducting cancer research in the Valley while training the next generation of researchers who understand and are invested in this community.”

For the Rio Grande Valley, that vision offers something that has been in short supply: hope grounded in science, delivered by researchers who understand that behind every statistic is a family, a community and a future worth fighting for.

The South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research (ST-CECR) will hold an open house on Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UTRGV Biomedical Research Building (5300 North L Street) in McAllen. Guests will have the opportunity to tour research labs, meet faculty experts, and learn more about ongoing cancer research in the Rio Grande Valley.

For questions, contact RCMI@utrgv.edu or call 956-296-1709.