In vivo staging of alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease

• Applicant: Dr. Andreas Schmid
• Subject Area: Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy, Radiobiology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 456007791

Western lifestyle, especially high caloric intake and excessive consumption of alcohol, often leads to diabetes or alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, followed by alcoholic and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which form the basis for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In order to achieve the best possible survival rates, the early detection of liver cancer is of paramount importance, although most clinical intervention begins with the detection of liver cancer. In order to avoid the late stage of fatty liver disease, the development of liver cancer, the non-invasive identification and characterization of the various stages of fatty liver disease as precursors of this multi-step process is of great clinical importance. To do this, the therapeutic interventions must begin as early as possible, well before the onset of a carcinoma, and aim for appropriate mechanisms. However, treatment options for the later stages of alcohol-related fatty liver disease are usually absent, since none of the compounds tested has significantly improved the therapy outcome beyond the "stop drinking" approach. Alcohol consumption and the resulting alcoholic liver disease remain one of the major components of HCC development.The project will specifically characterize the different stages of fatty liver disease, ranging from mild steatosis to steatohepatitis to HCC, in relevant mouse models closely resembling the clinical situation using state-of-the-art medical imaging technologies. Beyond morphological MRI, quantitative tissue characteristics (T1-, T2- relaxation times, tissue fat content and fat composition) and immuno-MRI, coupled with the PET study of glucose and fatty acid metabolism and proliferation, produce a unique imaging fingerprint and enable spatially resolved staging of the fatty liver disease.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Mathias Heikenwälder