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Hagström H, Shang Y, Hegmar H, Nasr P. Natural history and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 9:944-956. [PMID: 39243773 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(24)00193-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
The natural history of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously referred to as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is complex and long. A minority of patients develop inflammation and risk progressive fibrosis that can result in cirrhosis. Progression to cirrhosis occurs in 3-5% of patients and often takes more than 20 years. This narrative review presents an update on the natural history of MASLD, discussing studies and risk estimates for progression to severe outcomes, such as decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. We highlight the dynamic progression of liver damage, how to identify patients whose disease progresses over time, and how risk factors might be mitigated to reduce the risk for disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes Hagström
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Upper GI, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Ying Shang
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hannes Hegmar
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Upper GI, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patrik Nasr
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Health, Medicine, and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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2
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Peleman C, Hellemans S, Veeckmans G, Arras W, Zheng H, Koeken I, Van San E, Hassannia B, Walravens M, Kayirangwa E, Beyene NT, Van Herck MA, De Vos WH, Pintelon I, van Nassauw L, Oosterlinck B, Smet A, Vits L, Dirinck E, Verrijken A, De Man J, Van Eyck A, Kwanten WJ, Vonghia L, Driessen A, Augustyns K, Toyokuni S, De Winter B, Van Steenkiste C, Francque S, Vanden Berghe T. Ferroptosis is a targetable detrimental factor in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Cell Death Differ 2024; 31:1113-1126. [PMID: 39060422 PMCID: PMC11369286 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-024-01348-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
There is an unmet clinical need for pharmacologic treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Hepatocyte cell death is a hallmark of this highly prevalent chronic liver disease, but the dominant type of cell death remains uncertain. Here we report that ferroptosis, an iron-catalyzed mode of regulated cell death, contributes to MASLD. Unsupervised clustering in a cohort of biopsy-proven MASLD patients revealed a subgroup with hepatic ferroptosis signature and lower glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) levels. Likewise, a subgroup with reduced ferroptosis defenses was discerned in public transcriptomics datasets. Four weeks of choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined high-fat diet (CDAHFD) induced MASLD with ferroptosis in mice. Gpx4 overexpression did not affect steatohepatitis, instead CDAHFD protected from morbidity due to hepatocyte-specific Gpx4 knockout. The ferroptosis inhibitor UAMC-3203 attenuated steatosis and alanine aminotransferase in CDAHFD and a second model, i.e., the high-fat high-fructose diet (HFHFD). The effect of monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids supplementation on ferroptosis susceptibility was assessed in human HepG2 cells. Fat-laden HepG2 showed a drop in ferroptosis defenses, increased phosphatidylglycerol with two polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) lipid tails, and sustained ferroptosis sensitivity. In conclusion, this study identified hepatic ferroptosis as a detrimental factor in MASLD patients. Unexpectedly, non-PUFA supplementation to hepatocytes altered lipid bilayer composition to maintain ferroptosis sensitivity. Based on findings in in vivo models, ferroptosis inhibition represents a promising therapeutic target in MASLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Peleman
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- Cell Death Signaling Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Stig Hellemans
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Geraldine Veeckmans
- Cell Death Signaling Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wout Arras
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Hao Zheng
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ine Koeken
- Cell Death Signaling Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Emily Van San
- Cell Death Signaling Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Behrouz Hassannia
- Cell Death Signaling Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Magali Walravens
- Cell Death Signaling Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Edissa Kayirangwa
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nateneal Tamerat Beyene
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mikhaïl Alfons Van Herck
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Winnok Harald De Vos
- Laboratory of Cell Biology & Histology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Antwerp Centre for Advanced Microscopy (ACAM), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Excellence Consortium on Multimodal Neuromics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Isabel Pintelon
- Laboratory of Cell Biology & Histology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Antwerp Centre for Advanced Microscopy (ACAM), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Excellence Consortium on Multimodal Neuromics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Luc van Nassauw
- Department of ASTARC, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Baptiste Oosterlinck
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Annemieke Smet
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Lieve Vits
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Eveline Dirinck
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - An Verrijken
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Joris De Man
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Annelies Van Eyck
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Pediatrics, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Wilhelmus Josephus Kwanten
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Luisa Vonghia
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ann Driessen
- Department of Pathology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Molecular Imaging, Pathology, Radiotherapy, Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Koen Augustyns
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Shinya Toyokuni
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
- Center for Low-temperature Plasma Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Benedicte De Winter
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Christophe Van Steenkiste
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sven Francque
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Infla-Med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Tom Vanden Berghe
- Cell Death Signaling Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
- VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium.
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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3
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Iyer JS, Juyal D, Le Q, Shanis Z, Pokkalla H, Pouryahya M, Pedawi A, Stanford-Moore SA, Biddle-Snead C, Carrasco-Zevallos O, Lin M, Egger R, Hoffman S, Elliott H, Leidal K, Myers RP, Chung C, Billin AN, Watkins TR, Patterson SD, Resnick M, Wack K, Glickman J, Burt AD, Loomba R, Sanyal AJ, Glass B, Montalto MC, Taylor-Weiner A, Wapinski I, Beck AH. AI-based automation of enrollment criteria and endpoint assessment in clinical trials in liver diseases. Nat Med 2024:10.1038/s41591-024-03172-7. [PMID: 39112795 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03172-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/08/2024]
Abstract
Clinical trials in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, formerly known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) require histologic scoring for assessment of inclusion criteria and endpoints. However, variability in interpretation has impacted clinical trial outcomes. We developed an artificial intelligence-based measurement (AIM) tool for scoring MASH histology (AIM-MASH). AIM-MASH predictions for MASH Clinical Research Network necroinflammation grades and fibrosis stages were reproducible (κ = 1) and aligned with expert pathologist consensus scores (κ = 0.62-0.74). The AIM-MASH versus consensus agreements were comparable to average pathologists for MASH Clinical Research Network scores (82% versus 81%) and fibrosis (97% versus 96%). Continuous scores produced by AIM-MASH for key histological features of MASH correlated with mean pathologist scores and noninvasive biomarkers and strongly predicted progression-free survival in patients with stage 3 (P < 0.0001) and stage 4 (P = 0.03) fibrosis. In a retrospective analysis of the ATLAS trial (NCT03449446), responders receiving study treatment showed a greater continuous change in fibrosis compared with placebo (P = 0.02). Overall, these results suggest that AIM-MASH may assist pathologists in histologic review of MASH clinical trials, reducing inter-rater variability on trial outcomes and offering a more sensitive and reproducible measure of patient responses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Aryan Pedawi
- PathAI, Boston, MA, USA
- Atomwise, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Mary Lin
- PathAI, Boston, MA, USA
- Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Rockville, MD, USA
| | | | - Sara Hoffman
- PathAI, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hunter Elliott
- PathAI, Boston, MA, USA
- BigHat Biosciences, San Mateo, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth Leidal
- PathAI, Boston, MA, USA
- Genesis Therapeutics, Burlingame, CA, USA
| | - Robert P Myers
- Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, CA, USA
- OrsoBio, Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Chuhan Chung
- Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, CA, USA
- Inipharm, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Murray Resnick
- PathAI, Boston, MA, USA
- Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Jon Glickman
- PathAI, Boston, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alastair D Burt
- NIHRB Medical Research Center, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Rohit Loomba
- NAFLD Research Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Arun J Sanyal
- Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Ilan Wapinski
- PathAI, Boston, MA, USA
- Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
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4
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Mózes FE, Lee JA, Vali Y, Selvaraj EA, Jayaswal ANA, Boursier J, de Lédinghen V, Lupșor-Platon M, Yilmaz Y, Chan WK, Mahadeva S, Karlas T, Wiegand J, Shalimar, Tsochatzis E, Liguori A, Wong VWS, Lee DH, Holleboom AG, van Dijk AM, Mak AL, Hagström H, Akbari C, Hirooka M, Lee DH, Kim W, Okanoue T, Shima T, Nakajima A, Yoneda M, Thuluvath PJ, Li F, Berzigotti A, Mendoza YP, Noureddin M, Truong E, Fournier-Poizat C, Geier A, Tuthill T, Yunis C, Anstee QM, Harrison SA, Bossuyt PM, Pavlides M. Diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive tests to screen for at-risk MASH-An individual participant data meta-analysis. Liver Int 2024; 44:1872-1885. [PMID: 38573034 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS There is a need to reduce the screen failure rate (SFR) in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) clinical trials (MASH+F2-3; MASH+F4) and identify people with high-risk MASH (MASH+F2-4) in clinical practice. We aimed to evaluate non-invasive tests (NITs) screening approaches for these target conditions. METHODS This was an individual participant data meta-analysis for the performance of NITs against liver biopsy for MASH+F2-4, MASH+F2-3 and MASH+F4. Index tests were the FibroScan-AST (FAST) score, liver stiffness measured using vibration-controlled transient elastography (LSM-VCTE), the fibrosis-4 score (FIB-4) and the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS). Area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) and thresholds including those that achieved 34% SFR were reported. RESULTS We included 2281 unique cases. The prevalence of MASH+F2-4, MASH+F2-3 and MASH+F4 was 31%, 24% and 7%, respectively. Area under the receiver operating characteristics curves for MASH+F2-4 were .78, .75, .68 and .57 for FAST, LSM-VCTE, FIB-4 and NFS. Area under the receiver operating characteristics curves for MASH+F2-3 were .73, .67, .60, .58 for FAST, LSM-VCTE, FIB-4 and NFS. Area under the receiver operating characteristics curves for MASH+F4 were .79, .84, .81, .76 for FAST, LSM-VCTE, FIB-4 and NFS. The sequential combination of FIB-4 and LSM-VCTE for the detection of MASH+F2-3 with threshold of .7 and 3.48, and 5.9 and 20 kPa achieved SFR of 67% and sensitivity of 60%, detecting 15 true positive cases from a theoretical group of 100 participants at the prevalence of 24%. CONCLUSIONS Sequential combinations of NITs do not compromise diagnostic performance and may reduce resource utilisation through the need of fewer LSM-VCTE examinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferenc E Mózes
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, OCMR, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jenny A Lee
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yasaman Vali
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Emmanuel A Selvaraj
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, OCMR, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Arjun N A Jayaswal
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, OCMR, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jérôme Boursier
- Laboratoire HIFIH, UPRES EA 3859, SFR ICAT 4208, Université d'Angers, Angers, France
- Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie et Oncologie Digestive, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Victor de Lédinghen
- Centre d'Investigation de la Fibrose Hépatique, Hôpital Haut-Lévêque, Bordeaux University Hospital, Pessac, France
- INSERM1312, Bordeaux University, Bordeaux, France
| | - Monica Lupșor-Platon
- Department of Medical Imaging, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Prof.Dr. Octavian Fodor", Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Yusuf Yilmaz
- Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Turkey
| | - Wah-Kheong Chan
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sanjiv Mahadeva
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Thomas Karlas
- Department of Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pulmonology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johannes Wiegand
- Department of Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pulmonology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Shalimar
- Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Emmanouil Tsochatzis
- Sheila Sherlock Liver Unit and UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Royal Free Hospital and University College London, London, UK
| | - Antonio Liguori
- Sheila Sherlock Liver Unit and UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Royal Free Hospital and University College London, London, UK
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincent Wai-Sun Wong
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Dae Ho Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea
| | - Adriaan G Holleboom
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anne-Marieke van Dijk
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anne Linde Mak
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hannes Hagström
- Division of Liver and Pancreatic diseases, Department of Upper GI, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Camilla Akbari
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Masashi Hirooka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Touon, Ehime, Japan
| | - Dong Hyeon Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Kim
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Takeshi Okanoue
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saiseikai Suita Hospital, Suita, Japan
| | - Toshihide Shima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saiseikai Suita Hospital, Suita, Japan
| | - Atsushi Nakajima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Masato Yoneda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Paul J Thuluvath
- Institute of Digestive Health and Liver Diseases, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Feng Li
- Institute of Digestive Health and Liver Diseases, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Annalisa Berzigotti
- Department for Visceral Medicine and Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Yuly P Mendoza
- Department for Visceral Medicine and Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Health Sciences (GHS), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mazen Noureddin
- Houston Research Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Emily Truong
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Andreas Geier
- Division of Hepatology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Theresa Tuthill
- Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carla Yunis
- Clinical Development and Operations, Global Product Development, Pfizer, Inc, Lake Mary, Florida, USA
| | - Quentin M Anstee
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Stephen A Harrison
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, OCMR, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Patrick M Bossuyt
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Pavlides
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, OCMR, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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5
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Thakral N, Desalegn H, Diaz LA, Cabrera D, Loomba R, Arrese M, Arab JP. A Precision Medicine Guided Approach to the Utilization of Biomarkers in MASLD. Semin Liver Dis 2024. [PMID: 38991536 DOI: 10.1055/a-2364-2928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
The new nomenclature of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) emphasizes a positive diagnosis based on cardiometabolic risk factors. This definition is not only less stigmatizing but also allows for subclassification and stratification, thereby addressing the heterogeneity of what was historically referred to as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The heterogeneity within this spectrum is influenced by several factors which include but are not limited to demographic/dietary factors, the amount of alcohol use and drinking patterns, metabolic status, gut microbiome, genetic predisposition together with epigenetic factors. The net effect of this dynamic and intricate system-level interaction is reflected in the phenotypic presentation of MASLD. Therefore, the application of precision medicine in this scenario aims at complex phenotyping with consequent individual risk prediction, development of individualized preventive strategies, and improvements in the clinical trial designs. In this review, we aim to highlight the importance of precision medicine approaches in MASLD, including the use of novel biomarkers of disease, and its subsequent utilization in future study designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimish Thakral
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Hailemichael Desalegn
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Luis Antonio Diaz
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniel Cabrera
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica (CiiB), Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
- Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rohit Loomba
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, MASLD Research Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Marco Arrese
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Pablo Arab
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
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6
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Pericàs JM, Anstee QM, Augustin S, Bataller R, Berzigotti A, Ciudin A, Francque S, Abraldes JG, Hernández-Gea V, Pons M, Reiberger T, Rowe IA, Rydqvist P, Schabel E, Tacke F, Tsochatzis EA, Genescà J. A roadmap for clinical trials in MASH-related compensated cirrhosis. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024:10.1038/s41575-024-00955-8. [PMID: 39020089 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-024-00955-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Although metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is rapidly becoming a leading cause of cirrhosis worldwide, therapeutic options are limited and the number of clinical trials in MASH-related compensated cirrhosis is low as compared to those conducted in earlier disease stages. Moreover, designing clinical trials in MASH cirrhosis presents a series of challenges regarding the understanding and conceptualization of the natural history, regulatory considerations, inclusion criteria, recruitment, end points and trial duration, among others. The first international workshop on the state of the art and future direction of clinical trials in MASH-related compensated cirrhosis was held in April 2023 at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona (Spain) and was attended by a group of international experts on clinical trials from academia, regulatory agencies and industry, encompassing expertise in MASH, cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and regulatory affairs. The presented Roadmap summarizes important content of the workshop on current status, regulatory requirements and end points in MASH-related compensated cirrhosis clinical trials, exploring alternative study designs and highlighting the challenges that should be considered for upcoming studies on MASH cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan M Pericàs
- Liver Unit, Division of Digestive Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centros de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Quentin M Anstee
- Translational & Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Center, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Ramón Bataller
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Annalisa Berzigotti
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andreea Ciudin
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Morbid Obesity Unit Coordinator, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
- Centros de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas asociadas (CIBERdem), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sven Francque
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, InflaMed Centre of Excellence, Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Paediatrics, Translational Sciences in Inflammation and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Juan G Abraldes
- Division of Gastroenterology (Liver Unit), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Virginia Hernández-Gea
- Centros de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mònica Pons
- Liver Unit, Division of Digestive Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Thomas Reiberger
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ian A Rowe
- Leeds Institute for Medical Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Peter Rydqvist
- Medical Department, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, West Conshohocken, PA, USA
| | - Elmer Schabel
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, Bonn, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Emmanuel A Tsochatzis
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Royal Free Hospital and UCL, London, UK
| | - Joan Genescà
- Liver Unit, Division of Digestive Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centros de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Ratziu V, Francque S, Behling CA, Cejvanovic V, Cortez-Pinto H, Iyer JS, Krarup N, Le Q, Sejling AS, Tiniakos D, Harrison SA. Artificial intelligence scoring of liver biopsies in a phase II trial of semaglutide in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Hepatology 2024; 80:173-185. [PMID: 38112484 PMCID: PMC11185915 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Artificial intelligence-powered digital pathology offers the potential to quantify histological findings in a reproducible way. This analysis compares the evaluation of histological features of NASH between pathologists and a machine-learning (ML) pathology model. APPROACH AND RESULTS This post hoc analysis included data from a subset of patients (n=251) with biopsy-confirmed NASH and fibrosis stage F1-F3 from a 72-week randomized placebo-controlled trial of once-daily subcutaneous semaglutide 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4 mg (NCT02970942). Biopsies at baseline and week 72 were read by 2 pathologists. Digitized biopsy slides were evaluated by PathAI's NASH ML models to quantify changes in fibrosis, steatosis, inflammation, and hepatocyte ballooning using categorical assessments and continuous scores. Pathologist and ML-derived categorical assessments detected a significantly greater percentage of patients achieving the primary endpoint of NASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis with semaglutide 0.4 mg versus placebo (pathologist 58.5% vs. 22.0%, p < 0.0001; ML 36.9% vs. 11.9%; p =0.0015). Both methods detected a higher but nonsignificant percentage of patients on semaglutide 0.4 mg versus placebo achieving the secondary endpoint of liver fibrosis improvement without NASH worsening. ML continuous scores detected significant treatment-induced responses in histological features, including a quantitative reduction in fibrosis with semaglutide 0.4 mg versus placebo ( p =0.0099) that could not be detected using pathologist or ML categorical assessment. CONCLUSIONS ML categorical assessments reproduced pathologists' results of histological improvement with semaglutide for steatosis and disease activity. ML-based continuous scores demonstrated an antifibrotic effect not measured by conventional histopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlad Ratziu
- Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN), Paris, France
| | - Sven Francque
- Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- InflaMed Centre of Excellence, Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Paediatrics, Translational Sciences in Inflammation and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
- European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Helena Cortez-Pinto
- Clínica Universitária de Gastrenterologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | | | - Quang Le
- PathAI Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Dina Tiniakos
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Department of Pathology, Aretaieion Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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8
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Ratziu V, Yilmaz Y, Lazas D, Friedman SL, Lackner C, Behling C, Cummings OW, Chen L, Petitjean M, Gilgun-Sherki Y, Gorfine T, Kadosh S, Eyal E, Sanyal AJ. Aramchol improves hepatic fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: Results of multimodality assessment using both conventional and digital pathology. Hepatology 2024:01515467-990000000-00930. [PMID: 38916482 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Antifibrotic trials rely on conventional pathology despite recognized limitations. We compared single-fiber digital image analysis with conventional pathology to quantify the antifibrotic effect of Aramchol, a stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 inhibitor in development for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. APPROACH AND RESULTS Fifty-one patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis enrolled in the open-label part of the ARMOR trial received Aramchol 300 mg BID and had paired pre-post treatment liver biopsies scored by consensus among 3 hepatopathologists, and separately assessed by a digital image analysis platform (PharmaNest) that generates a continuous phenotypic Fibrosis Composite Severity (Ph-FCS) score. Fibrosis improvement was defined as: ≥1 NASH Clinical Research Network (NASH-CRN) stage reduction; "improved" by ranked pair assessment; reduction in Ph-FCS ("any" for ≥0.3 absolute reduction and "substantial" for ≥25% relative reduction). Fibrosis improved in 31% of patients (NASH-CRN), 51% (ranked pair assessment), 74.5% (any Ph-FCS reduction), and 41% (substantial Ph-FCS reduction). Most patients with stable fibrosis by NASH-CRN or ranked pair assessment had a Ph-FCS reduction (a third with substantial reduction). Fibrosis improvement increased with treatment duration: 25% for <48 weeks versus 39% for ≥48 weeks by NASH-CRN; 43% versus 61% by ranked pair assessment, mean Ph-FCS reduction -0.54 (SD: 1.22) versus -1.72 (SD: 1.02); Ph-FCS reduction (any in 54% vs. 100%, substantial in 21% vs. 65%). The antifibrotic effect of Aramchol was corroborated by reductions in liver stiffness, Pro-C3, and enhanced liver fibrosis. Changes in Ph-FCS were positively correlated with changes in liver stiffness. CONCLUSIONS Continuous fibrosis scores generated in antifibrotic trials by digital image analysis quantify antifibrotic effects with greater sensitivity and a larger dynamic range than conventional pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlad Ratziu
- Sorbonne Université, Institute for Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN) and Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, INSERM UMRS 1138 CRC, Paris, France
| | - Yusuf Yilmaz
- Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Turkey
| | - Don Lazas
- ObjectiveHealth/Digestive Health Research, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Caroline Lackner
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Cynthia Behling
- Department of Pathology, Sharp Health System, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Oscar W Cummings
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Li Chen
- PharmaNest Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | - Tali Gorfine
- Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Tel Aviv, Kiryat Motzkin, Israel
| | | | - Eli Eyal
- Eyal Statistical Consulting, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - Arun J Sanyal
- Department of Gastroenterology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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9
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Allen AM, Younossi ZM, Diehl AM, Charlton MR, Lazarus JV. Envisioning how to advance the MASH field. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024:10.1038/s41575-024-00938-9. [PMID: 38834817 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-024-00938-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Since 1980, the cumulative effort of scientists and health-care stakeholders has advanced the prerequisites to address metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a prevalent chronic non-communicable liver disease. This effort has led to, among others, the approval of the first drug specific for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH; formerly known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis). Despite substantial progress, MASLD is still a leading cause of advanced chronic liver disease, including primary liver cancer. This Perspective contextualizes the nomenclature change from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to MASLD and proposes important considerations to accelerate further progress in the field, optimize patient-centric multidisciplinary care pathways, advance pharmacological, behavioural and diagnostic research, and address health disparities. Key regulatory and other steps necessary to optimize the approval and access to upcoming additional pharmacological therapeutic agents for MASH are also outlined. We conclude by calling for increased education and awareness, enhanced health system preparedness, and concerted action by policy-makers to further the public health and policy agenda to achieve at least parity with other non-communicable diseases and to aid in growing the community of practice to reduce the human and economic burden and end the public health threat of MASLD and MASH by 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina M Allen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Zobair M Younossi
- Beatty Liver and Obesity Research Program, Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA, USA
- The Global NASH Council, Washington DC, USA
| | | | - Michael R Charlton
- Center for Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jeffrey V Lazarus
- The Global NASH Council, Washington DC, USA.
- CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), New York, NY, USA.
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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10
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Taru MG, Tefas C, Neamti L, Minciuna I, Taru V, Maniu A, Rusu I, Petrushev B, Procopciuc LM, Leucuta DC, Procopet B, Ferri S, Lupsor-Platon M, Stefanescu H. FAST and Agile-the MASLD drift: Validation of Agile 3+, Agile 4 and FAST scores in 246 biopsy-proven NAFLD patients meeting MASLD criteria of prevalent caucasian origin. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303971. [PMID: 38781158 PMCID: PMC11115280 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MASLD is a prevalent chronic liver condition with substantial clinical implications. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of three new, elastography-based, scoring systems for advanced fibrosis ≥F3 (Agile 3+), cirrhosis F4 (Agile 4), and fibrotic NASH: NASH + NAS ≥4 + F≥2 (FAST score), in a cohort of biopsy-proven NAFLD meeting MASLD criteria. Our secondary aim was to compare their diagnostic performances with those of other fibrosis prediction tools: LSM-VCTE alone, and common, easily available scores (FIB-4 or APRI). METHODS Single-center, retrospective study, on consecutive patients with baseline laboratory tests, liver biopsy, and reliable LSM-VCTE measurements. The discrimination between tests was evaluated by analyzing the AUROCs. Dual cut-off approaches were applied to rule-out and rule-in ≥F3, F4 and fibrotic NASH. We tested previously reported cut-off values and provided our best thresholds to achieve Se ≥85%, Se ≥90%, and Sp ≥90%, Sp ≥95%. RESULTS Among 246 patients, 113 (45.9%) were women, and 75 (30.5%) presented diabetes. Agile 3+ and Agile 4 demonstrated excellent performance in identifying ≥F3 and F4, achieving AUROCs of 0.909 and 0.968, while the FAST score yielded acceptable results in distinguishing fibrotic NASH. When compared to FIB-4 and LSM-VCTE, both Agile 3+ and Agile 4 performed better than FIB-4 and had a similar performance to LSM-VCTE, but with higher diagnostic accuracy, hence reducing the grey zone. CONCLUSION Agile 3+ and Agile 4 are reliable, non-invasive tests for identifying advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis in MASLD patients, while FAST score demonstrates moderate performance in identifying fibrotic NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madalina-Gabriela Taru
- Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Octavian Fodor", Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Cristian Tefas
- Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Octavian Fodor", Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Lidia Neamti
- Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Octavian Fodor", Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Iulia Minciuna
- Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Octavian Fodor", Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Vlad Taru
- Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Octavian Fodor", Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anca Maniu
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Octavian Fodor", Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Ioana Rusu
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Octavian Fodor", Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Bobe Petrushev
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Octavian Fodor", Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Lucia Maria Procopciuc
- Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Dan Corneliu Leucuta
- Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Bogdan Procopet
- Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Octavian Fodor", Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Silvia Ferri
- Division of Internal Medicine, Hepatobiliary and Immunoallergic Diseases, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero—Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Monica Lupsor-Platon
- Faculty of Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Octavian Fodor", Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Horia Stefanescu
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Octavian Fodor", Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
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11
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Tincopa MA, Anstee QM, Loomba R. New and emerging treatments for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. Cell Metab 2024; 36:912-926. [PMID: 38608696 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a leading etiology of chronic liver disease worldwide, with increasing incidence and prevalence in the setting of the obesity epidemic. MASH is also a leading indication for liver transplantation, given its associated risk of progression to end-stage liver disease. A key challenge in managing MASH is the lack of approved pharmacotherapy. In its absence, lifestyle interventions with a focus on healthy nutrition and regular physical activity have been the cornerstone of therapy. Real-world efficacy and sustainability of lifestyle interventions are low, however. Pharmacotherapy development for MASH is emerging with promising data from several agents with different mechanisms of action (MOAs) in phase 3 clinical trials. In this review, we highlight ongoing challenges and potential solutions in drug development for MASH and provide an overview of available data from emerging therapies across multiple MOAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica A Tincopa
- MASLD Research Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92103, USA
| | - Quentin M Anstee
- Translational & Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Center, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Rohit Loomba
- MASLD Research Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92103, USA; School of Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92103, USA.
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12
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Chen H, Shen H, Han J, Wang P, Song D, Shen H, Wei X, Yang B, Li J. Performance of ATT and UDFF in the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver: An animal experiment. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27993. [PMID: 38560108 PMCID: PMC10981026 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To establish a Bama minipigs model with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFL) induced by a high-fat diet and investigate the application of attenuation coefficient (ATT) and ultrasound-derived fat fraction (UDFF) in the diagnosis of NAFL. Methods Six-month-old male Bama minipigs were randomly divided into normal control and high-fat groups (n = 3 pigs per group), and fed with a control diet and high-fat diet for 32 weeks. Weight and body length were measured every four weeks, followed by quantitative ultrasound imaging (ATT and UDFF), blood biochemical markers, and liver biopsies on the same day. Using the Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Activity Score (NAS) as a reference, we analyzed the correlation between ATT, UDFF, and their score results. Results Compared with the normal control group, the body weight, body mass index (BMI), and serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the High-fat group were significantly different at Week 12 (P < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the ATT value was significantly correlated with NAS score (r = 0.76, P < 0.001), and the UDFF value was significantly correlated with NAS score (r = 0.80, P < 0.001). The optimal cut-off value of ATT and UDFF were 0.59 dB/cm/MHz and 5.5%, respectively. These values are optimal for diagnosis of NAFL in Bama minipig model. Conclusion ATT and UDFF have a high correlation with steatosis, and can be used as a non-invasive method for early screening of hepatic steatosis, which can dynamically monitor the change of disease course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Chen
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Huiming Shen
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jiahao Han
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Pingping Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Danlei Song
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Hongyuan Shen
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xiaoying Wei
- Department of Pathology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Bingjie Yang
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
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13
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Sherman MS, Challa PK, Przybyszewski EM, Wilechansky RM, Uche-Anya EN, Ott AT, McGoldrick J, Goessling W, Khalili H, Simon TG. A natural language processing algorithm accurately classifies steatotic liver disease pathology to estimate the risk of cirrhosis. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0403. [PMID: 38551386 PMCID: PMC10984665 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Histopathology remains the gold standard for diagnosing and staging metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The feasibility of studying MASLD progression in electronic medical records based on histological features is limited by the free-text nature of pathology reports. Here we introduce a natural language processing (NLP) algorithm to automatically score MASLD histology features. METHODS From the Mass General Brigham health care system electronic medical record, we identified all patients (1987-2021) with steatosis on index liver biopsy after excluding excess alcohol use and other etiologies of liver disease. An NLP algorithm was constructed in Python to detect steatosis, lobular inflammation, ballooning, and fibrosis stage from pathology free-text and manually validated in >1200 pathology reports. Patients were followed from the index biopsy to incident decompensated liver disease accounting for covariates. RESULTS The NLP algorithm demonstrated positive and negative predictive values from 93.5% to 100% for all histologic concepts. Among 3134 patients with biopsy-confirmed MASLD followed for 20,604 person-years, rates of the composite endpoint increased monotonically with worsening index fibrosis stage (p for linear trend <0.005). Compared to simple steatosis (incidence rate, 15.06/1000 person-years), the multivariable-adjusted HRs for cirrhosis were 1.04 (0.72-1.5) for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)/F0, 1.19 (0.92-1.54) for MASH/F1, 1.89 (1.41-2.52) for MASH/F2, and 4.21 (3.26-5.43) for MASH/F3. CONCLUSIONS The NLP algorithm accurately scores histological features of MASLD from pathology free-text. This algorithm enabled the construction of a large and high-quality MASLD cohort across a multihospital health care system and disclosed an accelerating risk for cirrhosis based on the index MASLD fibrosis stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc S. Sherman
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Brigham Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Prasanna K. Challa
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eric M. Przybyszewski
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert M. Wilechansky
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eugenia N. Uche-Anya
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ashley T. Ott
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jessica McGoldrick
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wolfram Goessling
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Brigham Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hamed Khalili
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tracey G. Simon
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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14
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Anstee QM, Magnanensi J, Hajji Y, Caron A, Majd Z, Rosenquist C, Hum DW, Staels B, Connelly MA, Loomba R, Harrison SA, Ratziu V, Sanyal AJ. Impact of age on NIS2+™ and other non-invasive blood tests for the evaluation of liver disease and detection of at-risk MASH. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:101011. [PMID: 38463540 PMCID: PMC10920708 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Robust performance of non-invasive tests (NITs) across ages is critical to assess liver disease among patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD). We evaluated the impact of age on the performance of NIS2+™ vs. other NITs. Methods An analysis cohort (N = 1,926) with biopsy-proven MASLD was selected among individuals screened for the phase III RESOLVE-IT clinical trial and divided into ≤45, 46-55, 56-64, and ≥65 years groups. To avoid potential confounding effects, a well-balanced cohort (n = 708; n = 177/age group) was obtained by applying a propensity score-matching algorithm to the analysis cohort. Baseline values of biomarkers and NITs were compared across age groups using one-way ANOVA, and the impact of age and histology were compared through three-way ANOVA. The impact of age on NIT performance for the detection of at-risk metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH; MASLD activity score [MAS] ≥4 and fibrosis stage [F] ≥2) was also evaluated. Results Age did not affect the distributions of NIS2+™ and APRI (aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index), but significantly (p <0.0001) impacted those of NFS (NAFLD fibrosis score), FIB-4 (Fibrosis-4 index), and Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF™) score. NIS2+™ was the only NIT on which fibrosis and MAS exerted a moderate to large effect. While the impact of fibrosis on APRI was moderate, that of MAS was low. The impact of age on FIB-4 and NFS was larger than that of fibrosis. NIS2+™ exhibited the highest AUROC values for detecting at-risk MASH across age groups, with stable performances irrespective of cut-offs. Conclusions NIS2+™ was not significantly impacted by age and was sensitive to both fibrosis and MAS grade, demonstrating a robust performance to rule in/out at-risk MASH with fixed cut-offs. Impact and Implications While metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) can affect individuals of all ages, patient age could represent an important confounding factor when interpreting non-invasive test (NIT) results, highlighting the need for reliable and efficient NITs that are not impacted by age and that could be interpreted with fixed cut-offs, irrespective of patient age. We report the impact of age on different well-established NITs - among those tested, only two panels, NIS2+™ and APRI, were not impacted by age and can be used and interpreted independently of patient age. NIS2+™ was also sensitive to both fibrosis and MAS, further confirming its efficiency for the detection of the composite endpoint of at-risk MASH and its potential as a valuable candidate for large-scale implementation in clinical practice and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin M. Anstee
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bart Staels
- Université de Lille, INSERM, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | | | - Rohit Loomba
- NAFLD Research Center, Division of Gastroenterology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, US
| | - Stephen A. Harrison
- Summit Clinical Research, San Antonio, TX, US
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Vlad Ratziu
- Sorbonne Université, Institute for Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Arun J. Sanyal
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, US
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15
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Noureddin M. MASH clinical trials and drugs pipeline: An impending tsunami. Hepatology 2024:01515467-990000000-00811. [PMID: 38502810 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, formerly known as NAFLD, has ascended to prominence as the predominant chronic liver disease in Western countries and now stands as a leading cause of liver transplantations. In the more advanced stage, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) may lead to fibrosis, a gateway to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure. Despite extensive research and exploration of various drug mechanisms, the anticipation for the inaugural approved drug to materialize by 2024 is palpable, marking a significant milestone. Numerous pathways have been investigated for MASH treatment, exploring thyroid hormone receptors, glucagon-like peptides 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, and agents influencing hepatic steatosis synthesis, inflammatory pathways, genetic components, fibrosis mechanisms, and an array of other avenues. Over time, key regulatory directions have crystallized, now manifesting in 2 primary endpoints under investigation: resolution of steatohepatitis without worsening fibrosis and/or improvement of fibrosis stage without worsening of steatohepatitis, especially used in phase 3 clinical trials, while alternative noninvasive endpoints are explored in phase 2 trials. The prospect of proving efficacy in clinical trials opens doors to combination therapies, evaluating the ideal combination of drugs to yield comprehensive benefits, extending beyond the liver to other organs. Certain combination drug trials are already underway. In this review, we discuss the forefront of MASH drug research as of 2023/2024, illuminating mechanisms, outcomes, and future trajectories. Furthermore, we tackle the challenges confronting MASH trials and propose potential strategies for surmounting them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mazen Noureddin
- Sherrie & Alan Conover Center for Liver Disease & Transplantation, Underwood Center for Digestive Disorders Department of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Houston Research Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
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16
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McTeer M, Applegate D, Mesenbrink P, Ratziu V, Schattenberg JM, Bugianesi E, Geier A, Romero Gomez M, Dufour JF, Ekstedt M, Francque S, Yki-Jarvinen H, Allison M, Valenti L, Miele L, Pavlides M, Cobbold J, Papatheodoridis G, Holleboom AG, Tiniakos D, Brass C, Anstee QM, Missier P. Machine learning approaches to enhance diagnosis and staging of patients with MASLD using routinely available clinical information. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299487. [PMID: 38421999 PMCID: PMC10903803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS Metabolic dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) outcomes such as MASH (metabolic dysfunction associated steatohepatitis), fibrosis and cirrhosis are ordinarily determined by resource-intensive and invasive biopsies. We aim to show that routine clinical tests offer sufficient information to predict these endpoints. METHODS Using the LITMUS Metacohort derived from the European NAFLD Registry, the largest MASLD dataset in Europe, we create three combinations of features which vary in degree of procurement including a 19-variable feature set that are attained through a routine clinical appointment or blood test. This data was used to train predictive models using supervised machine learning (ML) algorithm XGBoost, alongside missing imputation technique MICE and class balancing algorithm SMOTE. Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) were added to determine relative importance for each clinical variable. RESULTS Analysing nine biopsy-derived MASLD outcomes of cohort size ranging between 5385 and 6673 subjects, we were able to predict individuals at training set AUCs ranging from 0.719-0.994, including classifying individuals who are At-Risk MASH at an AUC = 0.899. Using two further feature combinations of 26-variables and 35-variables, which included composite scores known to be good indicators for MASLD endpoints and advanced specialist tests, we found predictive performance did not sufficiently improve. We are also able to present local and global explanations for each ML model, offering clinicians interpretability without the expense of worsening predictive performance. CONCLUSIONS This study developed a series of ML models of accuracy ranging from 71.9-99.4% using only easily extractable and readily available information in predicting MASLD outcomes which are usually determined through highly invasive means.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew McTeer
- Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Douglas Applegate
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Peter Mesenbrink
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals, East Hanover, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Vlad Ratziu
- Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Paris, France
| | - Jörn M. Schattenberg
- Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center Homburg and Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Luca Miele
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Dina Tiniakos
- Medical School of National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Translational & Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Clifford Brass
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Quentin M. Anstee
- Translational & Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre NUTH NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Missier
- Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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17
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Moreno LG, César NR, Melo DS, Figueiró MTO, Dos Santos EC, Evangelista-Silva PH, de Sousa Santos C, Costa KB, Rocha-Vieira E, Dias-Peixoto MF, Castro Magalhães FD, Esteves EA. A MUFA/carotenoid-rich oil ameliorated insulin resistance by improving inflammation and oxidative stress in obese rats. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 581:112110. [PMID: 37981187 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2023.112110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Obesity is associated with low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress, leading to insulin resistance and type II diabetes. Caryocar brasiliense pulp oil (pequi oil - PO) is rich in oleic acid and carotenoids and positively implicated in regulating inflammation and oxidative stress. This study investigated PO's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in a diet-induced obesity model. Male Wistar rats were allocated into three experimental groups: Control (CD), Western Diet (WD), and Western Diet, with 27% of lard switched by PO (WDP). Metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress biomarkers were evaluated after 12 weeks of diet protocols in liver and adipose tissue. WDP rats gained less body mass and epididymal fat, had less hepatic fat infiltration, and were more glucose-tolerant and insulin-sensitive than WD (p < 0.05). In the liver, the WDP group had the highest non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity, SOD and GPx activities, CAT, SOD II, and HSP72 expression compared to WD (p < 0.05). Adipose tissue IL-6 and TNF were reduced, and IL-10 was increased in WDP compared to WD (p < 0.05). Our data suggest that the partial replacement of lard by PO in a Western diet prevented visceral fat accumulation and contributed to reducing inflammation in adipose tissue and liver oxidative stress, improving obesity-related insulin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauane Gomes Moreno
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Rodovia MGT 367 - Km 583. N. 5000, Alto da Jacuba, Diamantina, MG, 39100-000, Brazil.
| | - Nayara Rayane César
- Programa de Pós-graduação Multicêntrico Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Rodovia MGT 367 - Km 583. N. 5000, Alto da Jacuba, Diamantina, MG, 39100-000, Brazil.
| | - Dirceu Sousa Melo
- Instituto de Ciências Naturais, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA, Aquenta Sol, Lavras, MG, 37200-900, Brazil.
| | - Maria Thereza Otoni Figueiró
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Rodovia MGT 367 - Km 583. N. 5000, Alto da Jacuba, Diamantina, MG, 39100-000, Brazil.
| | - Edivânia Cordeiro Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-graduação Multicêntrico Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Rodovia MGT 367 - Km 583. N. 5000, Alto da Jacuba, Diamantina, MG, 39100-000, Brazil.
| | | | - Carina de Sousa Santos
- Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Curso de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Grande Dourados - UFGD, Dourados, Brazil.
| | - Karine Beatriz Costa
- Programa de Pós-graduação Em Ciências Aplicadas à Saúde - PPgCAS, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - UFJF, Governador Valadares, MG, 35010-180, Brazil.
| | - Etel Rocha-Vieira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Rodovia MGT 367 - Km 583. N. 5000, Alto da Jacuba, Diamantina, MG, 39100-000, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação Multicêntrico Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Rodovia MGT 367 - Km 583. N. 5000, Alto da Jacuba, Diamantina, MG, 39100-000, Brazil.
| | - Marco Fabrício Dias-Peixoto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Rodovia MGT 367 - Km 583. N. 5000, Alto da Jacuba, Diamantina, MG, 39100-000, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação Multicêntrico Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Rodovia MGT 367 - Km 583. N. 5000, Alto da Jacuba, Diamantina, MG, 39100-000, Brazil.
| | - Flávio de Castro Magalhães
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Rodovia MGT 367 - Km 583. N. 5000, Alto da Jacuba, Diamantina, MG, 39100-000, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação Multicêntrico Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Rodovia MGT 367 - Km 583. N. 5000, Alto da Jacuba, Diamantina, MG, 39100-000, Brazil.
| | - Elizabethe Adriana Esteves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Rodovia MGT 367 - Km 583. N. 5000, Alto da Jacuba, Diamantina, MG, 39100-000, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação Multicêntrico Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Rodovia MGT 367 - Km 583. N. 5000, Alto da Jacuba, Diamantina, MG, 39100-000, Brazil.
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18
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Zheng TL, Sha JC, Deng Q, Geng S, Xiao SY, Yang WJ, Byrne CD, Targher G, Li YY, Wang XX, Wu D, Zheng MH. Object detection: A novel AI technology for the diagnosis of hepatocyte ballooning. Liver Int 2024; 44:330-343. [PMID: 38014574 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has reached epidemic proportions worldwide and is the most frequent cause of chronic liver disease in developed countries. Within the spectrum of liver disease in MAFLD, steatohepatitis is a progressive form of liver disease and hepatocyte ballooning (HB) is a cardinal pathological feature of steatohepatitis. The accurate and reproducible diagnosis of HB is therefore critical for the early detection and treatment of steatohepatitis. Currently, a diagnosis of HB relies on pathological examination by expert pathologists, which may be a time-consuming and subjective process. Hence, there has been interest in developing automated methods for diagnosing HB. This narrative review briefly discusses the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology for diagnosing fatty liver disease pathology over the last 30 years and provides an overview of the current research status of AI algorithms for the identification of HB, including published articles on traditional machine learning algorithms and deep learning algorithms. This narrative review also provides a summary of object detection algorithms, including the principles, historical developments, and applications in the medical image analysis. The potential benefits of object detection algorithms for HB diagnosis (specifically those combined with a transformer architecture) are discussed, along with the future directions of object detection algorithms in HB diagnosis and the potential applications of generative AI on transformer architecture in this field. In conclusion, object detection algorithms have huge potential for the identification of HB and could make the diagnosis of MAFLD more accurate and efficient in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Lei Zheng
- School of Information and Control Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China
- Artificial Intelligence Unit, Department of Medical Equipment Management, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Jun-Cheng Sha
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Qian Deng
- Department of Histopathology, Ningbo Clinical Pathology Diagnosis Center, Ningbo, China
| | - Shi Geng
- Artificial Intelligence Unit, Department of Medical Equipment Management, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Shu-Yuan Xiao
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Wen-Jun Yang
- Department of Pathology, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Christopher D Byrne
- Southampton National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, and University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Giovanni Targher
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- IRCSS Sacro Cuore - Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy
| | - Yang-Yang Li
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiang-Xue Wang
- Institute for AI in Medicine, School of Artificial Intelligence, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Pathology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, China
| | - Ming-Hua Zheng
- MAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Institute of Hepatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment for the Development of Chronic Liver Disease in Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, China
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19
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Ratziu V, Hompesch M, Petitjean M, Serdjebi C, Iyer JS, Parwani AV, Tai D, Bugianesi E, Cusi K, Friedman SL, Lawitz E, Romero-Gómez M, Schuppan D, Loomba R, Paradis V, Behling C, Sanyal AJ. Artificial intelligence-assisted digital pathology for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: current status and future directions. J Hepatol 2024; 80:335-351. [PMID: 37879461 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The worldwide prevalence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is increasing, causing a significant medical burden, but no approved therapeutics are currently available. NASH drug development requires histological analysis of liver biopsies by expert pathologists for trial enrolment and efficacy assessment, which can be hindered by multiple issues including sample heterogeneity, inter-reader and intra-reader variability, and ordinal scoring systems. Consequently, there is a high unmet need for accurate, reproducible, quantitative, and automated methods to assist pathologists with histological analysis to improve the precision around treatment and efficacy assessment. Digital pathology (DP) workflows in combination with artificial intelligence (AI) have been established in other areas of medicine and are being actively investigated in NASH to assist pathologists in the evaluation and scoring of NASH histology. DP/AI models can be used to automatically detect, localise, quantify, and score histological parameters and have the potential to reduce the impact of scoring variability in NASH clinical trials. This narrative review provides an overview of DP/AI tools in development for NASH, highlights key regulatory considerations, and discusses how these advances may impact the future of NASH clinical management and drug development. This should be a high priority in the NASH field, particularly to improve the development of safe and effective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlad Ratziu
- Sorbonne Université, ICAN Institute for Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, INSERM UMRS 1138 CRC, Paris, France.
| | | | | | | | | | - Anil V Parwani
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | | | - Kenneth Cusi
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric Lawitz
- Texas Liver Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Manuel Romero-Gómez
- Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, CiberEHD, Insituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (HUVR/CSIC/US), Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Detlef Schuppan
- Institute of Translational Immunology and Department of Medicine, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany; Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rohit Loomba
- NAFLD Research Center, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Valérie Paradis
- Université Paris Cité, Service d'Anatomie Pathologique, Hôpital Beaujon, Paris, France
| | | | - Arun J Sanyal
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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20
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Akbari C, Dodd M, Stål P, Nasr P, Ekstedt M, Kechagias S, Vessby J, Rorsman F, Zhang X, Wang T, Jemielita T, Fernandes G, Engel SS, Hagström H, Shang Y. Long-term major adverse liver outcomes in 1,260 patients with non-cirrhotic NAFLD. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:100915. [PMID: 38293684 PMCID: PMC10827505 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Long-term studies of the prognosis of NAFLD are scarce. Here, we investigated the risk of major adverse liver outcomes (MALO) in a large cohort of patients with NAFLD. Methods We conducted a cohort study with data from Swedish university hospitals. Patients (n = 1,260) with NAFLD without cirrhosis were diagnosed through biopsy or radiology, and had fibrosis estimated through vibration-controlled transient elastography, biopsy, or FIB-4 score between 1974 and 2020 and followed up through 2020. Each patient was matched on age, sex, and municipality with up to 10 reference individuals from the general population (n = 12,529). MALO were ascertained from Swedish national registers. The rate of events was estimated by Cox regression. Results MALO occurred in 111 (8.8%, incidence rate = 5.9/1,000 person-years) patients with NAFLD and 197 (1.6%, incidence rate = 1.0/1,000 person-years) reference individuals during a median follow up of 13 years. The rate of MALO was higher in patients with NAFLD (hazard ratio = 6.6; 95% CI = 5.2-8.5). The risk of MALO was highly associated with the stage of fibrosis at diagnosis. In the biopsy subcohort (72% of total sample), there was no difference in risk between patients with and without non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The 20-year cumulative incidences of MALO were 2% for the reference population, 3% for patients with F0, and 35% for F3. Prognostic information from biopsy was comparable to FIB-4 (C-indices around 0.73 vs. 0.72 at 10 years). Conclusions This study provides updated information on the natural history of NAFLD, showing a high rate of progression to cirrhosis in F3 and a similar prognostic capacity of non-invasive tests to liver biopsy. Impact and implications Several implications for clinical care and future research may be noted based on these results. First, the risk estimates for cirrhosis development are important when communicating risk to patients and deciding on clinical monitoring and treatment. Estimates can also be used in updated health-economic evaluations, and for regulatory agencies. Second, our results again highlight the low predictive information obtained from ascertaining NASHstatus by histology and call for more objective means by which to define NASH. Such methods may include artificial intelligence-supported digital pathology. We highlight that NASH is most likely the causal factor for fibrosis progression in NAFLD, but the subjective definition makes the prognostic value of a histological NASH diagnosis of limited value. Third, the finding that prognostic information from biopsy and the very simple Fibrosis-4 score were comparable is important as it may lead to fewer biopsies and further move the field towards non-invasive means by which to define fibrosis and, importantly, use non-invasive tests as outcomes in clinical trials. However, all modalities had modest discriminatory capacity and new risk stratification systems are needed in NAFLD. Repeated measures of non-invasive scores may be a potential solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Akbari
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maja Dodd
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Stål
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Upper GI, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patrik Nasr
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Department of Health, Medicine, and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mattias Ekstedt
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Department of Health, Medicine, and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Stergios Kechagias
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Department of Health, Medicine, and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johan Vessby
- Department of Medical Sciences, Gastroenterology Research Group, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Rorsman
- Department of Medical Sciences, Gastroenterology Research Group, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Hannes Hagström
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Upper GI, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ying Shang
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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21
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Parola M, Pinzani M. Liver fibrosis in NAFLD/NASH: from pathophysiology towards diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Mol Aspects Med 2024; 95:101231. [PMID: 38056058 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2023.101231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis, as an excess deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, results from chronic liver injury as well as persistent activation of inflammatory response and of fibrogenesis. Liver fibrosis is a major determinant for chronic liver disease (CLD) progression and in the last two decades our understanding on the major molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the fibrogenic progression of CLD has dramatically improved, boosting pre-clinical studies and clinical trials designed to find novel therapeutic approaches. From these studies several critical concepts have emerged, starting to reveal the complexity of the pro-fibrotic microenvironment which involves very complex, dynamic and interrelated interactions between different hepatic and extrahepatic cell populations. This review will offer first a recapitulation of established and novel pathophysiological basic principles and concepts by intentionally focus the attention on NAFLD/NASH, a metabolic-related form of CLD with a high impact on the general population and emerging as a leading cause of CLD worldwide. NAFLD/NASH-related pro-inflammatory and profibrogenic mechanisms will be analysed as well as novel information on cells, mediators and signalling pathways which have taken advantage from novel methodological approaches and techniques (single cell genomics, imaging mass cytometry, novel in vitro two- and three-dimensional models, etc.). We will next offer an overview on recent advancement in diagnostic and prognostic tools, including serum biomarkers and polygenic scores, to support the analysis of liver biopsies. Finally, this review will provide an analysis of current and emerging therapies for the treatment of NAFLD/NASH patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Parola
- Dept. Clinical and Biological Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pathology, University of Torino, Corso Raffaello 30, 10125, Torino, Italy.
| | - Massimo Pinzani
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Division of Medicine - Royal Free Hospital, London, NW32PF, United Kingdom.
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22
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Ribback S, Peters K, Yasser M, Prey J, Wilhelmi P, Su Q, Dombrowski F, Bannasch P. Hepatocellular Ballooning is Due to Highly Pronounced Glycogenosis Potentially Associated with Steatosis and Metabolic Reprogramming. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2024; 12:52-61. [PMID: 38250461 PMCID: PMC10794273 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2023.00242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Hepatocellular ballooning is a common finding in chronic liver disease, mainly characterized by rarefied cytoplasm that often contains Mallory-Denk bodies (MDB). Ballooning has mostly been attributed to degeneration but its striking resemblance to glycogenotic/steatotic changes characterizing preneoplastic hepatocellular lesions in animal models and chronic human liver diseases prompts the question whether ballooned hepatocytes (BH) are damaged cells on the path to death or rather viable cells, possibly involved in neoplastic development. Methods Using specimens from 96 cirrhotic human livers, BH characteristics were assessed for their glycogen/lipid stores, enzyme activities, and proto-oncogenic signaling cascades by enzyme- and immunohistochemical approaches with serial paraffin and cryostat sections. Results BH were present in 43.8% of cirrhotic livers. Particularly pronounced excess glycogen storage of (glycogenosis) and/or lipids (steatosis) were characteristic, ground glass features and MDB were often observed. Decreased glucose-6-phosphatase, increased glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and altered immunoreactivity of enzymes involved in glycolysis, lipid metabolism, and cholesterol biosynthesis were discovered. Furthermore, components of the insulin signaling cascade were upregulated along with insulin dependent glucose transporter glucose transporter 4 and the v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway associated with de novo lipogenesis. Conclusions BH are hallmarked by particularly pronounced glycogenosis with facultative steatosis, many of their features being reminiscent of metabolic aberrations documented in preneoplastic hepatocellular lesions in experimental animals and chronic human liver diseases. Hence, BH are not damaged entities facing death but rather viable cells featuring metabolic reprogramming, indicative of a preneoplastic nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Ribback
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitaetsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kristin Peters
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitaetsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Mohd Yasser
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitaetsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jessica Prey
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitaetsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Paula Wilhelmi
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitaetsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Qin Su
- Cell Marque, Millipore-Sigma, Rocklin, CA, USA
| | - Frank Dombrowski
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitaetsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Peter Bannasch
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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23
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Miller H, Harman D, Aithal GP, Manousou P, Cobbold JF, Parker R, Sheridan D, Newsome PN, Karpe F, Neville M, Arlt W, Sitch AJ, Korbonits M, Biehl M, Alazawi W, Tomlinson JW. Translating the potential of the urine steroid metabolome to stage NAFLD (TrUSt-NAFLD): study protocol for a multicentre, prospective validation study. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e074918. [PMID: 38238179 PMCID: PMC10806741 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects approximately one in four individuals and its prevalence continues to rise. The advanced stages of NAFLD with significant liver fibrosis are associated with adverse morbidity and mortality outcomes. Currently, liver biopsy remains the 'gold-standard' approach to stage NAFLD severity. Although generally well tolerated, liver biopsies are associated with significant complications, are resource intensive, costly, and sample only a very small area of the liver as well as requiring day case admission to a secondary care setting. As a result, there is a significant unmet need to develop non-invasive biomarkers that can accurately stage NAFLD and limit the need for liver biopsy. The aim of this study is to validate the use of the urine steroid metabolome as a strategy to stage NAFLD severity and to compare its performance against other non-invasive NAFLD biomarkers. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The TrUSt-NAFLD study is a multicentre prospective test validation study aiming to recruit 310 patients with biopsy-proven and staged NAFLD across eight centres within the UK. 150 appropriately matched control patients without liver disease will be recruited through the Oxford Biobank. Blood and urine samples, alongside clinical data, will be collected from all participants. Urine samples will be analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy to quantify a panel of predefined steroid metabolites. A machine learning-based classifier, for example, Generalized Matrix Relevance Learning Vector Quantization that was trained on retrospective samples, will be applied to the prospective steroid metabolite data to determine its ability to identify those patients with advanced, as opposed to mild-moderate, liver fibrosis as a consequence of NAFLD. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Research ethical approval was granted by West Midlands, Black Country Research Ethics Committee (REC reference: 21/WM/0177). A substantial amendment (TrUSt-NAFLD-SA1) was approved on 26 November 2021. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN19370855.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamish Miller
- Oxford Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Barts Liver Centre, Queen Mary University London and Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - David Harman
- Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Reading, UK
| | - Guruprasad Padur Aithal
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Pinelopi Manousou
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Jeremy F Cobbold
- Oxford Liver Unit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard Parker
- Leeds Liver Unit, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - David Sheridan
- Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Philip N Newsome
- National Institute for Health Research Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Fredrik Karpe
- Oxford Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew Neville
- Oxford Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Wiebke Arlt
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Medical Research Council London Institute of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, London, UK
| | - Alice J Sitch
- National Institute for Health Research Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Marta Korbonits
- Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Michael Biehl
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- SMQB, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - William Alazawi
- Barts Liver Centre, Queen Mary University London and Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Jeremy W Tomlinson
- Oxford Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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24
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Harrison SA, Ratziu V, Anstee QM, Noureddin M, Sanyal AJ, Schattenberg JM, Bedossa P, Bashir MR, Schneider D, Taub R, Bansal M, Kowdley KV, Younossi ZM, Loomba R. Design of the phase 3 MAESTRO clinical program to evaluate resmetirom for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2024; 59:51-63. [PMID: 37786277 DOI: 10.1111/apt.17734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with steatosis, hepatocellular injury, inflammation and fibrosis. In a Phase 2 trial in adults with NASH (NCT02912260), resmetirom, an orally administered, liver-targeted thyroid hormone receptor-β selective agonist, significantly reduced hepatic fat (via imaging) and resolved NASH without worsening fibrosis (via liver biopsy) in a significant number of patients compared with placebo. AIMS To present the design of the Phase 3 MAESTRO clinical programme evaluating resmetirom for treatment of NASH (MAESTRO-NAFLD-1 [NCT04197479], MAESTRO-NAFLD-OLE [NCT04951219], MAESTRO-NASH [NCT03900429], MAESTRO-NASH-OUTCOMES [NCT05500222]). METHODS MAESTRO-NASH is a pivotal serial biopsy trial in up to 2000 adults with biopsy-confirmed at-risk NASH. Patients are randomised to a once-daily oral placebo, 80 mg resmetirom, or 100 mg resmetirom. Liver biopsies are conducted at screening, week 52 and month 54. MAESTRO-NAFLD-1 is a 52-week safety trial in ~1400 adults with NAFLD/presumed NASH (based on non-invasive testing); ~700 patients from MAESTRO-NAFLD-1 are enrolled in MAESTRO-NAFLD-OLE, a 52-week active treatment extension to further evaluate safety. MAESTRO-NASH-OUTCOMES is enrolling 700 adults with well-compensated NASH cirrhosis to evaluate the potential for resmetirom to slow progression to hepatic decompensation events. Non-invasive tests (biomarkers, imaging) are assessed longitudinally throughout, in addition to validated patient-reported outcomes. CONCLUSION The MAESTRO clinical programme was designed in conjunction with regulatory authorities to support approval of resmetirom for treatment of NASH. The surrogate endpoints, based on week 52 liver biopsy, serum biomarkers and imaging, are confirmed by long-term clinical liver-related outcomes in MAESTRO-NASH (month 54) and MAESTRO-NASH-OUTCOMES (time to event).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A Harrison
- Pinnacle Clinical Research Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Quentin M Anstee
- Translational & Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Mazen Noureddin
- Houston Research Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Arun J Sanyal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Jörn M Schattenberg
- Metabolic Liver Research Program, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Rebecca Taub
- Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Meena Bansal
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Rohit Loomba
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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25
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Francque SM, Noureddin M, Krag A. Learnings From the Graveyard of Phase 2 and 3 Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Trials. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 22:16-19. [PMID: 37517632 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2023.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sven M Francque
- Department of Gastroenterology Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium; InflaMed Centre of Excellence, Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Paediatrics, Translational Sciences in Inflammation and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Mazen Noureddin
- Houston Research Institute, Houston, Texas; Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas
| | - Aleksander Krag
- Centre for Liver Research, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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26
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Khalfallah M, Doblas S, Hammoutene A, Julea F, Postic C, Valla D, Paradis V, Garteiser P, Van Beers BE. Visco-Elastic Parameters at Three-Dimensional MR Elastography for Diagnosing Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis and Substantial Fibrosis in Mice. J Magn Reson Imaging 2024; 59:97-107. [PMID: 37158252 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing worldwide and is a growing cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer. The performance of the magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) visco-elastic parameters in diagnosing progressive forms of NAFLD, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and substantial fibrosis (F ≥ 2), needs to be clarified. PURPOSE To assess the value of three-dimensional MRE visco-elastic parameters as markers of NASH and substantial fibrosis in mice with NAFLD. STUDY TYPE Prospective. ANIMAL MODEL Two mouse models of NAFLD were induced by feeding with high fat diet or high fat, choline-deficient, amino acid-defined diet. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE 7T/multi-slice multi-echo spin-echo MRE at 400 Hz with motion encoding in the three spatial directions. ASSESSMENT Hepatic storage and loss moduli were calculated. Histological analysis was based on the NASH Clinical Research Network criteria. STATISTICAL TESTS Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Spearman rank correlations and multiple regressions were used. Diagnostic performance was assessed with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs). P value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS Among the 59 mice with NAFLD, 21 had NASH and 20 had substantial fibrosis (including 8 mice without and 12 mice with NASH). The storage and loss moduli had similar moderate accuracy for diagnosing NASH with AUCs of 0.67 and 0.66, respectively. For diagnosing substantial fibrosis, the AUC of the storage modulus was 0.73 and the AUC of the loss modulus was 0.81, indicating good diagnostic performance. Using Spearman correlations, histological fibrosis, inflammation and steatosis, but not ballooning, were significantly correlated with the visco-elastic parameters. Using multiple regression, fibrosis was the only histological feature independently associated with the visco-elastic parameters. CONCLUSION MRE in mice with NAFLD suggests that the storage and loss moduli have good diagnostic performance for detecting progressive NAFLD defined as substantial fibrosis rather than NASH. EVIDENCE LEVEL 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meryem Khalfallah
- Laboratory of Imaging Biomarkers, Center for Research on Inflammation, Université Paris Cité, UMR 1149 Inserm, Paris, France
| | - Sabrina Doblas
- Laboratory of Imaging Biomarkers, Center for Research on Inflammation, Université Paris Cité, UMR 1149 Inserm, Paris, France
| | - Adel Hammoutene
- Team "From Inflammation to Cancer in Digestive Disease", Center for Research on Inflammation, Université Paris Cité, UMR 1149 Inserm, Paris, France
| | - Felicia Julea
- Laboratory of Imaging Biomarkers, Center for Research on Inflammation, Université Paris Cité, UMR 1149 Inserm, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Postic
- Team "Glucose Sensing, Insulin Signaling and Glucotoxicity", Institut Cochin, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Inserm, Paris, France
| | - Dominique Valla
- Department of Hepatology, Beaujon University Hospital Paris Nord, AP-HP, Clichy, France
| | - Valérie Paradis
- Team "From Inflammation to Cancer in Digestive Disease", Center for Research on Inflammation, Université Paris Cité, UMR 1149 Inserm, Paris, France
- Department of Pathology, Beaujon University Hospital Paris Nord, AP-HP, Clichy, France
| | - Philippe Garteiser
- Laboratory of Imaging Biomarkers, Center for Research on Inflammation, Université Paris Cité, UMR 1149 Inserm, Paris, France
| | - Bernard E Van Beers
- Laboratory of Imaging Biomarkers, Center for Research on Inflammation, Université Paris Cité, UMR 1149 Inserm, Paris, France
- Department of Radiology, Beaujon University Hospital Paris Nord, AP-HP, Clichy, France
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27
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Sanyal AJ, Jha P, Kleiner DE. Digital pathology for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis assessment. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 21:57-69. [PMID: 37789057 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-023-00843-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Histological assessment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has anchored knowledge development about the phenotypes of the condition, their natural history and their clinical course. This fact has led to the use of histological assessment as a reference standard for the evaluation of efficacy of drug interventions for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) - the more histologically active form of NAFLD. However, certain limitations of conventional histological assessment systems pose challenges in drug development. These limitations have spurred intense scientific and commercial development of machine learning and digital approaches towards the assessment of liver histology in patients with NAFLD. This research field remains an area in rapid evolution. In this Perspective article, we summarize the current conventional assessment of NASH and its limitations, the use of specific digital approaches for histological assessment, and their application to the study of NASH and its response to therapy. Although this is not a comprehensive review, the leading tools currently used to assess therapeutic efficacy in drug development are specifically discussed. The potential translation of these approaches to support routine clinical assessment of NAFLD and an agenda for future research are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun J Sanyal
- Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Prakash Jha
- Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - David E Kleiner
- Post-Mortem Section Laboratory of Pathology Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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28
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Anstee QM, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Wai-Sun Wong V, Abdelmalek MF, Rodriguez-Araujo G, Landgren H, Park GS, Bedossa P, Alkhouri N, Tacke F, Sanyal AJ. Cenicriviroc Lacked Efficacy to Treat Liver Fibrosis in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: AURORA Phase III Randomized Study. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 22:124-134.e1. [PMID: 37061109 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Cenicriviroc (CVC) is a novel, orally administered, chemokine receptor type 2 and 5 antagonist that showed antifibrotic potential in preclinical and phase IIb studies of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Herein, we report efficacy and safety results from the phase III study. METHODS The AURORA (A Study for the Efficacy and Safety of CVC for the Treatment of Liver Fibrosis in Adults With NASH) study was a phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-part study of patients with NASH and stage 2/3 liver fibrosis. Adults, 18-75 years of age, were randomized to CVC 150 mg or placebo once daily for 12 months (part 1) or 60 months (part 2). Liver biopsies were performed at screening, month 12, and early study discontinuation or termination. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients with fibrosis improvement ≥1 stage without worsening of steatohepatitis at month 12 relative to screening. Adverse events were assessed throughout the study. RESULTS A total of 1778 patients were randomized and discontinued (part 1: n = 1293; part 2: n = 485). In part 1, at month 12, a similar proportion of patients receiving CVC or placebo achieved the primary endpoint (22.3% vs 25.5%; odds ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-1.10; P = .21) and complete resolution of steatohepatitis without worsening of fibrosis (23.0% vs 27.2%; P = .21). The safety profile was generally comparable across treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS This study did not demonstrate the efficacy of CVC for treating liver fibrosis assessed by histology in adults with NASH; however, CVC was safe and well tolerated in patients with NASH and liver fibrosis. (ClinicalTrials.gov, Number: NCT03028740).
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin M Anstee
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
| | - Brent A Neuschwander-Tetri
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Vincent Wai-Sun Wong
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Manal F Abdelmalek
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | | | | | - Pierre Bedossa
- Department of Pathology, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France
| | | | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Arun J Sanyal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
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29
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Anstee QM, Berentzen TL, Nitze LM, Jara M, Jensen AB, Kjær MS, Mangla KK, Tarp JM, Khunti K. Prognostic utility of Fibrosis-4 Index for risk of subsequent liver and cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality in individuals with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes: a longitudinal cohort study. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. EUROPE 2024; 36:100780. [PMID: 38188279 PMCID: PMC10769893 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Background The Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4) is used as a non-invasive tool for the presence of advanced liver fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and type 2 diabetes. However, evidence for an association between FIB-4 and risk of mortality and/or liver-related clinical outcomes is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between FIB-4 and subsequent liver events, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality in individuals with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes examined in routine general practice. Methods This was a longitudinal cohort study in which eligible adults had obesity and/or type 2 diabetes and ≥1 FIB-4 score calculable from UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD after 1 January 2001. No alcohol-related disorders and/or chronic liver diseases (except non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) and/or no prescriptions of drugs inducing liver disease were permitted. Individuals were followed until time of first event, 10 years, or 1 January 2020. Analyses were conducted using Aalen-Johansen cumulative incidence functions and Cox proportional hazards models. Findings Among 44,481 included individuals (mean age 58·8 years; 54% female), there were 979 liver, 6002 cardiovascular, and 8971 mortality events during the 10 years of follow-up. At 10 years, the cumulative incidence of liver events in the high (>2·67), indeterminate (1·30-2·67), and low (<1·30) baseline FIB-4 risk groups were 15%, 3%, and 1%, respectively. Age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for liver events were elevated in high (16·46; 95% confidence interval [CI] 13·65-19·85) and indeterminate (2·45; 95% CI 2·07-2·90) versus low FIB-4 risk groups. Similar results were found for cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Among 20,433 individuals with ≥2 FIB-4 measurements, increase/decrease in FIB-4 12 months after baseline was directly associated with risk of liver events: compared with individuals with low baseline FIB-4 and no change in FIB-4 (reference), the adjusted HR (95% CI) for those with high baseline FIB-4 was 24·27 (16·98-34·68) with a one-unit FIB-4 increase, and 10·90 (7·90-15·05) with a one-unit decrease. Interpretation In addition to its value as a diagnostic tool, FIB-4 has clinical utility as a prognostic biomarker. Sequential measurement provides a pragmatic, tractable monitoring biomarker that refines risk assessment for liver events, cardiovascular events, and mortality. Funding Novo Nordisk A/S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin M. Anstee
- Translational & Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kamlesh Khunti
- Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK
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30
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Sanyal AJ, Loomba R, Anstee QM, Ratziu V, Kowdley KV, Rinella ME, Harrison SA, Resnick MB, Capozza T, Sawhney S, Shelat N, Younossi ZM. Utility of pathologist panels for achieving consensus in NASH histologic scoring in clinical trials: Data from a phase 3 study. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0325. [PMID: 38126958 PMCID: PMC10749704 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver histopathologic assessment is the accepted surrogate endpoint in NASH trials; however, the scoring of NASH Clinical Research Network (CRN) histologic parameters is limited by intraobserver and interobserver variability. We designed a consensus panel approach to minimize variability when using this scoring system. We assessed agreement between readers, estimated linear weighted kappas between 2 panels, compared them with published pairwise kappa estimates, and addressed how agreement or disagreement might impact the precision and validity of the surrogate efficacy endpoint in NASH trials. METHODS Two panels, each comprising 3 liver fellowship-trained pathologists who underwent NASH histology training, independently evaluated scanned whole slide images, scoring fibrosis, inflammation, hepatocyte ballooning, and steatosis from baseline and month 18 biopsies for 100 patients from the precirrhotic NASH study REGENERATE. The consensus score for each parameter was defined as agreement by ≥2 pathologists. If consensus was not reached, all 3 pathologists read the slide jointly to achieve a consensus score. RESULTS Between the 2 panels, the consensus was 97%-99% for steatosis, 91%-93% for fibrosis, 88%-92% for hepatocyte ballooning, and 84%-91% for inflammation. Linear weighted kappa scores between panels were similar to published NASH CRN values. CONCLUSIONS A panel of 3 trained pathologists independently scoring 4 NASH CRN histology parameters produced high consensus rates. Interpanel kappa values were comparable to NASH CRN metrics, supporting the accuracy and reproducibility of this method. The high concordance for fibrosis scoring was reassuring, as fibrosis is predictive of liver-specific outcomes and all-cause mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun J. Sanyal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Rohit Loomba
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Quentin M. Anstee
- Translational & Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Vlad Ratziu
- Sorbonne Université, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Pitié Salpêtriére University Hospital, Paris, France
| | | | - Mary E. Rinella
- Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Murray B. Resnick
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Thomas Capozza
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Morristown, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Nirav Shelat
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Morristown, New Jersey, USA
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McGenity C, Randell R, Bellamy C, Burt A, Cratchley A, Goldin R, Hubscher SG, Neil DAH, Quaglia A, Tiniakos D, Wyatt J, Treanor D. Survey of liver pathologists to assess attitudes towards digital pathology and artificial intelligence. J Clin Pathol 2023; 77:27-33. [PMID: 36599660 PMCID: PMC10804041 DOI: 10.1136/jcp-2022-208614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
AIMS A survey of members of the UK Liver Pathology Group (UKLPG) was conducted, comprising consultant histopathologists from across the UK who report liver specimens and participate in the UK National Liver Pathology External Quality Assurance scheme. The aim of this study was to understand attitudes and priorities of liver pathologists towards digital pathology and artificial intelligence (AI). METHODS The survey was distributed to all full consultant members of the UKLPG via email. This comprised 50 questions, with 48 multiple choice questions and 2 free-text questions at the end, covering a range of topics and concepts pertaining to the use of digital pathology and AI in liver disease. RESULTS Forty-two consultant histopathologists completed the survey, representing 36% of fully registered members of the UKLPG (42/116). Questions examining digital pathology showed respondents agreed with the utility of digital pathology for primary diagnosis 83% (34/41), second opinions 90% (37/41), research 85% (35/41) and training and education 95% (39/41). Fatty liver diseases were an area of demand for AI tools with 80% in agreement (33/41), followed by neoplastic liver diseases with 59% in agreement (24/41). Participants were concerned about AI development without pathologist involvement 73% (30/41), however, 63% (26/41) disagreed when asked whether AI would replace pathologists. CONCLUSIONS This study outlines current interest, priorities for research and concerns around digital pathology and AI for liver pathologists. The majority of UK liver pathologists are in favour of the application of digital pathology and AI in clinical practice, research and education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare McGenity
- Pathology and Data Analytics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Department of Histopathology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Rebecca Randell
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
- Wolfson Centre for Applied Health Research, Bradford, UK
| | | | - Alastair Burt
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Alyn Cratchley
- Department of Histopathology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Robert Goldin
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Stefan G Hubscher
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Desley A H Neil
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Alberto Quaglia
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | - Dina Tiniakos
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
- Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Judy Wyatt
- Department of Histopathology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Darren Treanor
- Pathology and Data Analytics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Department of Histopathology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
- Department of Clinical Pathology and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Centre for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Wai-Sun Wong V, Anstee QM, Nitze LM, Geerts A, George J, Nolasco V, Kjær MS, Ladelund S, Newsome PN, Ratziu V. FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase (FAST) score for monitoring histological improvement in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis activity during semaglutide treatment: post-hoc analysis of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2b trial. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 66:102310. [PMID: 38058795 PMCID: PMC10696384 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Currently, assessment of candidate pharmacotherapies in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) involves invasive liver biopsy. Non-invasive scores, such as the FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase (FAST) score, are used to identify candidates for therapy, but their ability to assess disease progression or treatment effect is unknown. We aimed to assess the association between FAST score and histological endpoints. Methods We conducted a post-hoc analysis using data from a prior randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2b trial at 143 sites across 16 countries. Patients (aged 18-75 years) with biopsy-confirmed NASH, fibrosis stage 1-3, and a Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease Activity Score (NAS) ≥4 were enrolled between January 2017 and September 2018, and randomly assigned to receive once-daily subcutaneous semaglutide 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4 mg or placebo for 72 weeks. A subgroup analysis of patients with FAST score and histological data in the pooled semaglutide treatment and placebo arms at baseline and week 72 was performed. The original trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02970942. Findings A total of 122 patients were included in this post-hoc analysis (93 received semaglutide and 29 received placebo). FAST score reduction was associated with achieving the primary endpoint of NASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis in the pooled semaglutide group (area under the receiver operating curve 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58, 0.81). Mean FAST score reduction from baseline to week 72 was greatest in patients who met the primary endpoint vs those who did not in both the semaglutide (-0.40 [95% CI -0.84, 0.04] vs -0.22 [95% CI -0.74, 0.30] points; p = 0.002) and placebo groups (-0.25 [95% CI -0.72, 0.23] vs 0.00 [95% CI -0.50, 0.50] points; p = 0.047). Similarly, mean reductions in FAST score at week 72 were greater in those with NAS improvement vs those without in the semaglutide and placebo groups (≥1 point, -0.36 [95% CI -0.82, 0.11] vs -0.08 [95% CI -0.53, 0.38] points [p < 0.001] and -0.25 [95% CI -0.64, 0.14] vs -0.06 [95% CI -0.40, 0.53] points [p = 0.001]; ≥2 points, -0.40 [95% CI -0.86, 0.06] vs -0.14 [95% CI -0.56, 0.28] points [p < 0.001] and -0.29 [95% CI -0.67, 0.09] vs -0.05 [95% CI -0.40, 0.50] points; [p < 0.001]). A FAST score reduction of more than 0.22 points after semaglutide treatment was associated with meeting the primary endpoint (sensitivity 78%; specificity 60%; positive likelihood ratio 1.26; negative likelihood ratio 0.25; odds ratio 4.93). Interpretation The potential of the FAST score as a non-invasive monitoring tool to identify histological changes following treatment requires further evaluation and validation. Funding Novo Nordisk A/S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Wai-Sun Wong
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Quentin M. Anstee
- Translational & Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | | | - Anja Geerts
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hepatology Research Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jacob George
- Storr Liver Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Philip N. Newsome
- NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Vlad Ratziu
- Institute for Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Sorbonne Université, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, APHP, INSERM UMRS 1138 CRC, Paris, France
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Sanyal AJ, Ratziu V, Loomba R, Anstee QM, Kowdley KV, Rinella ME, Sheikh MY, Trotter JF, Knapple W, Lawitz EJ, Abdelmalek MF, Newsome PN, Boursier J, Mathurin P, Dufour JF, Berrey MM, Shiff SJ, Sawhney S, Capozza T, Leyva R, Harrison SA, Younossi ZM. Results from a new efficacy and safety analysis of the REGENERATE trial of obeticholic acid for treatment of pre-cirrhotic fibrosis due to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. J Hepatol 2023; 79:1110-1120. [PMID: 37517454 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Obeticholic acid (OCA) is a first-in-class farnesoid X receptor agonist and antifibrotic agent in development for the treatment of pre-cirrhotic liver fibrosis due to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We aimed to validate the original 18-month liver biopsy analysis from the phase III REGENERATE trial of OCA for the treatment of NASH with a consensus panel analysis, provide additional histology data in a larger population, and evaluate safety from >8,000 total patient-years' exposure with nearly 1,000 participants receiving study drug for >4 years. METHODS Digitized whole-slide images were evaluated independently by panels of three pathologists using the NASH Clinical Research Network scoring system. Primary endpoints were (1) ≥1 stage improvement in fibrosis with no worsening of NASH or (2) NASH resolution with no worsening of fibrosis. Safety was assessed by laboratory values and adverse events. RESULTS Prespecified efficacy analyses included 931 participants. The proportion of participants achieving a ≥1 stage improvement in fibrosis with no worsening of NASH was 22.4% for OCA 25 mg vs. 9.6% for placebo (p <0.0001). More participants receiving OCA 25 mg vs. placebo achieved NASH resolution with no worsening of fibrosis (6.5% vs. 3.5%, respectively; p = 0.093). Histology data in a larger population of 1,607 participants supported these results. Safety data included 2,477 participants. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), serious TEAEs, and deaths was not substantively different across treatment groups. Pruritus was the most common TEAE. Rates of adjudicated hepatic, renal, and cardiovascular events were low and similar across treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS These results confirm the antifibrotic effect of OCA 25 mg. OCA was generally well tolerated over long-term dosing. These data support a positive benefit:risk profile in patients with pre-cirrhotic liver fibrosis due to NASH. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) often have liver scarring (fibrosis), which causes an increased risk of liver-related illness and death. Preventing progression of fibrosis to cirrhosis or reversing fibrosis are the main goals of drug development for NASH. In this clinical trial of obeticholic acid (OCA) in patients with NASH (REGENERATE), we reaffirmed our previous results demonstrating that OCA was superior to placebo in improving fibrosis using a more rigorous consensus panel analysis of liver biopsies taken at month 18. We also showed that OCA treatment resulted in dose-dependent reductions of serum liver biochemistries and liver stiffness measurements compared with placebo, even in participants in whom histologic fibrosis did not change at 18 months, providing evidence that the benefit of OCA extends beyond what is captured by the ordinal NASH CRN scoring system. OCA was well tolerated with a favorable safety profile supporting a positive benefit: risk profile in patients with pre-cirrhotic liver fibrosis due to NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun J Sanyal
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Vlad Ratziu
- Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Institute for Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Paris, France
| | - Rohit Loomba
- University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Quentin M Anstee
- Translational & Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Center, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Mary E Rinella
- University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | | | - Eric J Lawitz
- Texas Liver Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Manal F Abdelmalek
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Philip N Newsome
- National Institute for Health Research Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, Centre for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jérôme Boursier
- Angers University Hospital, Angers University, Angers, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Rina Leyva
- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Morristown, NJ, USA
| | | | - Zobair M Younossi
- Beatty Liver and Obesity Research Program, Center for Liver Diseases, Inova Medicine, Falls Church, VA, USA
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Alkhouri N, Lazas D, Loomba R, Frias JP, Feng S, Tseng L, Balic K, Agollah GD, Kwan T, Iyer JS, Morrow L, Mansbach H, Margalit M, Harrison SA. Clinical trial: Effects of pegozafermin on the liver and on metabolic comorbidities in subjects with biopsy-confirmed nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2023; 58:1005-1015. [PMID: 37718721 DOI: 10.1111/apt.17709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An approved therapy for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis remains a major unmet medical need. AIM To investigate the histological and metabolic benefits of pegozafermin, a glycoPEGylated FGF21 analogue, in subjects with biopsy-confirmed NASH. METHODS This proof-of-concept, open-label, single-cohort study, part 2 of a phase 1b/2a clinical trial, was conducted at 16 centres in the United States. Adults (age 21-75 years) with NASH (stage 2 or 3 fibrosis, NAS≥4) and magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) ≥8% received subcutaneous pegozafermin 27 mg once weekly for 20 weeks. Primary outcomes were improvements in liver histology, and safety and tolerability. RESULTS Of 20 enrolled subjects, 19 completed the study. Twelve subjects (63%) met the primary endpoint of ≥2-point improvement in NAFLD activity score with ≥1-point improvement in ballooning or lobular inflammation and no worsening of fibrosis. Improvement of fibrosis without worsening of NASH was observed in 26% of subjects, and NASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis in 32%. Least-squares mean relative change from baseline in MRI-PDFF was -64.7% (95% CI: -71.7, -57.7; p < 0.0001). Significant improvements from baseline were also seen in serum aminotransferases, noninvasive fibrosis tests, serum lipids, glycaemic control and body weight. Adverse events (AEs) were reported in 18 subjects (90%). The most frequently reported AEs were mild/moderate nausea and diarrhoea. There were no serious AEs, discontinuations due to AEs, or deaths. CONCLUSIONS Pegozafermin treatment for 20 weeks had beneficial effects on hepatic and metabolic parameters and was well tolerated in subjects with NASH. CLINICALTRIALS gov: NCT04048135.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Donald Lazas
- ObjectiveHealth/Digestive Health Research, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Rohit Loomba
- University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Juan P Frias
- Velocity Clinical Research, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Leo Tseng
- 89bio Inc., San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | - Tinna Kwan
- 89bio Inc., San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Stephen A Harrison
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Pinnacle Clinical Research, San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Pavlides M, Mózes FE, Akhtar S, Wonders K, Cobbold J, Tunnicliffe EM, Allison M, Godfrey EM, Aithal GP, Francis S, Romero-Gomez M, Castell J, Fernandez-Lizaranzu I, Aller R, González RS, Agustin S, Pericàs JM, Boursier J, Aube C, Ratziu V, Wagner M, Petta S, Antonucci M, Bugianesi E, Faletti R, Miele L, Geier A, Schattenberg JM, Tilman E, Ekstedt M, Lundberg P, Berzigotti A, Huber AT, Papatheodoridis G, Yki-Järvinen H, Porthan K, Schneider MJ, Hockings P, Shumbayawonda E, Banerjee R, Pepin K, Kalutkiewicz M, Ehman RL, Trylesinksi A, Coxson HO, Martic M, Yunis C, Tuthill T, Bossuyt PM, Anstee QM, Neubauer S, Harrison S. Liver Investigation: Testing Marker Utility in Steatohepatitis (LITMUS): Assessment & validation of imaging modality performance across the NAFLD spectrum in a prospectively recruited cohort study (the LITMUS imaging study): Study protocol. Contemp Clin Trials 2023; 134:107352. [PMID: 37802221 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2023.107352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the liver manifestation of the metabolic syndrome with global prevalence reaching epidemic levels. Despite the high disease burden in the population only a small proportion of those with NAFLD will develop progressive liver disease, for which there is currently no approved pharmacotherapy. Identifying those who are at risk of progressive NAFLD currently requires a liver biopsy which is problematic. Firstly, liver biopsy is invasive and therefore not appropriate for use in a condition like NAFLD that affects a large proportion of the population. Secondly, biopsy is limited by sampling and observer dependent variability which can lead to misclassification of disease severity. Non-invasive biomarkers are therefore needed to replace liver biopsy in the assessment of NAFLD. Our study addresses this unmet need. The LITMUS Imaging Study is a prospectively recruited multi-centre cohort study evaluating magnetic resonance imaging and elastography, and ultrasound elastography against liver histology as the reference standard. Imaging biomarkers and biopsy are acquired within a 100-day window. The study employs standardised processes for imaging data collection and analysis as well as a real time central monitoring and quality control process for all the data submitted for analysis. It is anticipated that the high-quality data generated from this study will underpin changes in clinical practice for the benefit of people with NAFLD. Study Registration: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05479721.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Pavlides
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Ferenc E Mózes
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Salma Akhtar
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kristy Wonders
- Translational & Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy Cobbold
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Elizabeth M Tunnicliffe
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Michael Allison
- Liver Unit, Department of Medicine, Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Edmund M Godfrey
- Department of Radiology, Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Guruprasad P Aithal
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Susan Francis
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Manuel Romero-Gomez
- Digestive Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Javier Castell
- Radiodiagnosis Clinical Management Unit, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Rocio Aller
- Department of Gastroenterology, Clinic University Hospital, Medical School, University of Valladolid, CIBERINFEC, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Rebeca Sigüenza González
- Department of Radiology, Clinic University Hospital, Medical School, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Salvador Agustin
- Liver Unit, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital, Centros de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan M Pericàs
- Liver Unit, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital, Centros de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jerome Boursier
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, Angers, France; & Laboratoire HIFIH UPRES EA3859, Université d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Christophe Aube
- Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers, Angers, France; & Laboratoire HIFIH UPRES EA3859, Université d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Vlad Ratziu
- Sorbonne Université, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Mathilde Wagner
- Radiology department, AP-HP.6, GH Pitié Salpêtrière - Charles Foix Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Salvatore Petta
- Section of Gastroenterology, PROMISE, University of Palermo, Italy
| | - Michela Antonucci
- Section of Radiology - Di.Bi.Me.F., University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Bugianesi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Riccardo Faletti
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Luca Miele
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Medical School, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore and Fondazione Pol. Gemelli IRCCS Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Andreas Geier
- Department of Hepatology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jörn M Schattenberg
- Metabolic Liver Research Program, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre, Mainz, Germany
| | - Emrich Tilman
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center of Johannes-Gutenberg-University, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Mattias Ekstedt
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, and Centre for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Peter Lundberg
- Department of Radiation Physics, and Centre for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Annalisa Berzigotti
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Adrian T Huber
- Department of Diagnostic, Interventional and Paediatric Radiology (DIPR), Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - George Papatheodoridis
- Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, General Hospital of Athens "Laiko", Athens, Greece
| | - Hannele Yki-Järvinen
- Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kimmo Porthan
- Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Aldo Trylesinksi
- ADVANZPHARMA, Capital House, 1st Floor, 85 King William Street, London EC4N 7BL, United Kingdom
| | | | - Miljen Martic
- Novartis AG, Translational Medicine, Clinical and Precision Medicine Imaging, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Carla Yunis
- Clinical Development and Operations, Pfizer Inc., Lake Mary, FL, USA
| | - Theresa Tuthill
- Clinical Development and Operations, Pfizer Inc., Lake Mary, FL, USA
| | - Patrick M Bossuyt
- Department of Epidemiology & Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Quentin M Anstee
- Translational & Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Neubauer
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stephen Harrison
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Karsdal MA, Hallsworth K, Scragg J, Leeming DJ, Villesen IF, Avery L, Haigh L, Govaere O, Wichmann S, Taylor G, Cassidy S, McPherson S, Anstee QM. Serum levels of fibrogenesis biomarkers reveal distinct endotypes predictive of response to weight loss in advanced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e0254. [PMID: 37756043 PMCID: PMC10531192 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND NAFLD is associated with activation of fibroblasts and hepatic fibrosis. Substantial patient heterogeneity exists, so it remains challenging to risk-stratify patients. We hypothesized that the amount of fibroblast activity, as assessed by circulating biomarkers of collagen formation, can define a "high-risk, high-fibrogenesis" patient endotype that exhibits greater fibroblast activity and potentially more progressive disease, and this endotype may be more amendable to dietary intervention. METHODS Patients with clinically confirmed advanced NAFLD were prescribed a very low-calorie diet (VLCD) intervention (∼800 kcal/d) to induce weight loss, achieved using total diet replacement. Serum markers of type III (PRO-C3) and IV collagen (PRO-C4) fibrogenesis were assessed at baseline every second week until the end of the VLCD, and 4 weeks post-VLCD and at 9 months follow-up. RESULTS Twenty-six subjects had a mean weight loss of 9.7% with VLCD. This was associated with significant improvements in liver biochemistry. When stratified by baseline PRO-C3 and PRO-C4 into distinct fibrosis endotypes, these predicted substantial differences in collagen fibrogenesis marker dynamics in response to VLCD. Patients in the high activity group (PRO-C3 >11.4 ng/mL and/or PRO-C4 >236.5 ng/mL) exhibited a marked reduction of collagen fibrogenesis, ranging from a 40%-55% decrease in PRO-C3 and PRO-C4, while fibrogenesis remained unchanged in the low activity group. The biochemical response to weight loss was substantially greater in patients a priori exhibiting a high fibroblast activity endotype in contrast to patients with low activity. CONCLUSIONS Thus, the likelihood of treatment response may be predicted at baseline by quantification of fibrogenesis biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kate Hallsworth
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Jadine Scragg
- Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Ida F. Villesen
- Nordic Bioscience Biomarkers and Research A/S, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Leah Avery
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Laura Haigh
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Olivier Govaere
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Sarah Wichmann
- Nordic Bioscience Biomarkers and Research A/S, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Guy Taylor
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Sophie Cassidy
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Stuart McPherson
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Quentin M. Anstee
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Andreasen CR, Andersen A, Vilsbøll T. The future of incretins in the treatment of obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Diabetologia 2023; 66:1846-1858. [PMID: 37498367 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-023-05966-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
In the last few decades, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists have changed current guidelines and improved outcomes for individuals with type 2 diabetes. However, the dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR)/GLP-1R agonist, tirzepatide, has demonstrated superior efficacy regarding improvements in HbA1c and body weight in people with type 2 diabetes. This has led to increasing scientific interest in incretin hormones and incretin interactions, and several compounds based on dual- and multi-agonists are now being investigated for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Herein, we highlight the key scientific advances in utilising incretins for the treatment of obesity and, potentially, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The development of multi-agonists with multi-organ targets may alter the natural history of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine R Andreasen
- Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital - Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Andreas Andersen
- Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital - Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Tina Vilsbøll
- Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital - Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark.
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark.
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Anstee QM, Lucas KJ, Francque S, Abdelmalek MF, Sanyal AJ, Ratziu V, Gadano AC, Rinella M, Charlton M, Loomba R, Mena E, Schattenberg JM, Noureddin M, Lazas D, Goh GB, Sarin SK, Yilmaz Y, Martic M, Stringer R, Kochuparampil J, Chen L, Rodriguez-Araujo G, Chng E, Naoumov NV, Brass C, Pedrosa MC. Tropifexor plus cenicriviroc combination versus monotherapy in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: Results from the phase 2b TANDEM study. Hepatology 2023; 78:1223-1239. [PMID: 37162151 PMCID: PMC10521801 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS With distinct mechanisms of action, the combination of tropifexor (TXR) and cenicriviroc (CVC) may provide an effective treatment for NASH. This randomized, multicenter, double-blind, phase 2b study assessed the safety and efficacy of TXR and CVC combination, compared with respective monotherapies. APPROACH AND RESULTS Patients (N = 193) were randomized 1:1:1:1 to once-daily TXR 140 μg (TXR 140 ), CVC 150 mg (CVC), TXR 140 μg + CVC 150 mg (TXR 140 + CVC), or TXR 90 μg + CVC 150 mg (TXR 90 + CVC) for 48 weeks. The primary and secondary end points were safety and histological improvement, respectively. Rates of adverse events (AEs) were similar across treatment groups. Pruritus was the most frequently experienced AE, with highest incidence in the TXR 140 group (40.0%). In TXR and combination groups, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) decreased from baseline to 48 weeks (geometric mean change: -21%, TXR 140 ; -16%, TXR 140 + CVC; -13%, TXR 90 + CVC; and +17%, CVC). Reductions in body weight observed at week 24 (mean changes from baseline: TXR 140 , -2.5 kg; TXR 140 + CVC, -1.7 kg; TXR 90 + CVC, -1.0 kg; and CVC, -0.1 kg) were sustained to week 48. At least 1-point improvement in fibrosis stage/steatohepatitis resolution without worsening of fibrosis was observed in 32.3%/25.8%, 31.6%/15.8%, 29.7%/13.5%, and 32.5%/22.5% of patients in the TXR 140 , CVC, TXR 140 + CVC, and TXR 90 + CVC groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The safety profile of TXR + CVC combination was similar to respective monotherapies, with no new signals. TXR monotherapy showed sustained ALT and body weight decreases. No substantial incremental efficacy was observed with TXR + CVC combination on ALT, body weight, or in histological end points compared with monotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin M. Anstee
- Translational & Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Kathryn J. Lucas
- Diabetes and Endocrinology Consultants, Morehead City, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sven Francque
- Department of Gastroenterology Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- InflaMed Centre of Excellence, Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Paediatrics, Translational Sciences in Inflammation and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER)
| | | | - Arun J. Sanyal
- Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Vlad Ratziu
- Sorbonne Université, Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, ICAN Paris, France
| | | | - Mary Rinella
- University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Rohit Loomba
- University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Edward Mena
- California Liver Research Institute, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Jörn M. Schattenberg
- Metabolic Liver Research Program, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Donald Lazas
- Digestive Health Research and ObjectiveHealth, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - George B.B. Goh
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Shiv K. Sarin
- Department of Hepatology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Yusuf Yilmaz
- Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Turkey
| | | | | | | | - Li Chen
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | | | - Clifford Brass
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
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Liang JX, Ampuero J, Niu H, Imajo K, Noureddin M, Behari J, Lee DH, Ehman RL, Rorsman F, Vessby J, Lacalle JR, Mózes FE, Pavlides M, Anstee QM, Harrison SA, Castell J, Loomba R, Romero-Gómez M. An individual patient data meta-analysis to determine cut-offs for and confounders of NAFLD-fibrosis staging with magnetic resonance elastography. J Hepatol 2023; 79:592-604. [PMID: 37121437 PMCID: PMC10623141 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS We conducted an individual patient data meta-analysis to establish stiffness cut-off values for magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in staging liver fibrosis and to assess potential confounding factors. METHODS A systematic review of the literature identified studies reporting MRE data in patients with NAFLD. Data were obtained from the corresponding authors. The pooled diagnostic cut-off value for the various fibrosis stages was determined in a two-stage meta-analysis. Multilevel modelling methods were used to analyse potential confounding factors influencing the diagnostic accuracy of MRE in staging liver fibrosis. RESULTS Eight independent cohorts comprising 798 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for MRE in detecting significant fibrosis was 0.92 (sensitivity, 79%; specificity, 89%). For advanced fibrosis, the AUROC was 0.92 (sensitivity, 87%; specificity, 88%). For cirrhosis, the AUROC was 0.94 (sensitivity, 88%, specificity, 89%). Cut-offs were defined to explore concordance between MRE and histopathology: ≥F2, 3.14 kPa (pretest probability, 39.4%); ≥F3, 3.53 kPa (pretest probability, 24.1%); and F4, 4.45 kPa (pretest probability, 8.7%). In generalized linear mixed model analysis, histological steatohepatitis with higher inflammatory activity (odds ratio 2.448, 95% CI 1.180-5.079, p <0.05) and high gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) concentration (>120U/L) (odds ratio 3.388, 95% CI 1.577-7.278, p <0.01] were significantly associated with elevated liver stiffness, and thus affecting accuracy in staging early fibrosis (F0-F1). Steatosis, as measured by magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction, and body mass index(BMI) were not confounders. CONCLUSIONS MRE has excellent diagnostic performance for significant, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with NAFLD. Elevated inflammatory activity and GGT level may lead to overestimation of early liver fibrosis, but anthropometric measures such as BMI or the degree of steatosis do not. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS This individual patient data meta-analysis of eight international cohorts, including 798 patients, demonstrated that MRE achieves excellent diagnostic accuracy for significant, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with NAFLD. Cut-off values (significant fibrosis, 3.14 kPa; advanced fibrosis, 3.53 kPa; and cirrhosis, 4.45 kPa) were established. Elevated inflammatory activity and gamma-glutamyltransferase level may affect the diagnostic accuracy of MRE, leading to overestimation of liver fibrosis in early stages. We observed no impact of diabetes, obesity, or any other metabolic disorder on the diagnostic accuracy of MRE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Xu Liang
- Digestive Diseases Unit and CIBERehd, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Seville, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (HUVR/CSIC/US), University of Seville, Seville, Spain; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Henan University of Chinese Medicine (Zhengzhou People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, China
| | - Javier Ampuero
- Digestive Diseases Unit and CIBERehd, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Seville, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (HUVR/CSIC/US), University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Hao Niu
- Digestive System and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Virgen de la Victoria University Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga and Nanomedicine Platform-IBIMA (Plataforma BIONAND), University of Malaga, Málaga, Spain; Biomedical Research Network Center for Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Kento Imajo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine; Yokohama, Japan
| | - Mazen Noureddin
- Fatty Liver Program, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Comprehensive Transplant Program, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jaideep Behari
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Center for Liver Diseases, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dae Ho Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine (Gachon University Gil Medical Center), Incheon, South Korea
| | - Richard L Ehman
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Fredrik Rorsman
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan Vessby
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Juan R Lacalle
- Biostatistics Unit, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Ferenc E Mózes
- Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Michael Pavlides
- Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Quentin M Anstee
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute; Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals, NHS Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Stephen A Harrison
- Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Javier Castell
- Department of Radiology, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Seville, Spain
| | - Rohit Loomba
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; NAFLD Research Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Manuel Romero-Gómez
- Digestive Diseases Unit and CIBERehd, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Seville, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (HUVR/CSIC/US), University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
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Singla T, Muneshwar KN, Pathade AG, Yelne S. Hepatocytic Ballooning in Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis: Bridging the Knowledge Gap and Charting Future Avenues. Cureus 2023; 15:e45884. [PMID: 37885505 PMCID: PMC10598508 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is emerging as a significant global health concern, characterized by hepatic lipid accumulation, inflammation, and hepatocellular injury. Hepatocytic ballooning, a histological feature of NASH, has gained prominence for its role in disease progression and potential as a therapeutic target. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge regarding hepatocytic ballooning in NASH, highlighting the key molecular and cellular mechanisms implicated in its development. We delve into the intricate interplay of metabolic dysregulation, oxidative stress, and lipid toxicity as drivers of hepatocytic ballooning, shedding light on the pathways responsible for its initiation and perpetuation. Furthermore, we explore the diagnostic challenges associated with hepatocytic ballooning and its significance as a prognostic indicator in NASH patients. While hepatocytic ballooning holds promise as a therapeutic target, this abstract discusses the various experimental and clinical approaches to ameliorate this histological hallmark. Potential interventions, including lifestyle modifications, pharmacological agents, and emerging therapies, are evaluated in terms of their efficacy and safety profiles. In conclusion, this review underscores the need to bridge the knowledge gap surrounding hepatocytic ballooning in NASH and emphasizes its importance in understanding disease pathogenesis and progression. By charting future research avenues and clinical strategies, we aspire to advance our comprehension of NASH and ultimately improve patient outcomes in this rapidly evolving field of hepatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanvi Singla
- Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Komal N Muneshwar
- Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Aniket G Pathade
- Research and Development, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Seema Yelne
- Nursing, Shalinitai Meghe College of Nursing, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
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Harrison SA, Ratziu V, Magnanensi J, Hajji Y, Deledicque S, Majd Z, Rosenquist C, Hum DW, Staels B, Anstee QM, Sanyal AJ. NIS2+™, an optimisation of the blood-based biomarker NIS4® technology for the detection of at-risk NASH: A prospective derivation and validation study. J Hepatol 2023; 79:758-767. [PMID: 37224923 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS NIS4® is a blood-based non-invasive test designed to effectively rule in/rule out at-risk non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), defined as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score ≥4 and significant fibrosis (stage ≥2), among patients with metabolic risk factors. Robustness of non-invasive test scores across characteristics of interest including age, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and sex, and optimised analytical aspects are critical for large-scale implementation in clinical practice. We developed and validated NIS2+™, an optimisation of NIS4®, specifically designed to improve score robustness. METHODS A well-balanced training cohort (n = 198) included patients from the GOLDEN-505 trial. The validation (n = 684) and test (n = 2,035) cohorts included patients from the RESOLVE-IT trial. Well-matched subgroups were created to avoid potential confounding effects during modelling and analysis of score robustness. Models were trained using logistic regressions for at-risk NASH detection and compared using Bayesian information criteria. Performance of NIS2+™ was compared with that of NIS4®, Fibrosis-4, and alanine aminotransferase using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and robustness was analysed through score distribution. RESULTS Using the training cohort to compare all combinations of NIS4® biomarkers, NIS2 (miR-34a-5p, YKL-40) was identified as the best combination of parameters. To correct for the sex effect on miR-34a-5p (validation cohort), sex and sex ∗ miR-34a-5p parameters were added, creating NIS2+™. In the test cohort, NIS2+™ exhibited a statistically higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.813) vs. NIS4® (0.792; p = 0.0002), Fibrosis-4 (0.653; p <0.0001), and alanine aminotransferase (0.699; p <0.0001). NIS2+™ scores were not affected by age, sex, BMI, or type 2 diabetes mellitus status, providing robust clinical performances irrespective of patient characteristics. CONCLUSION NIS2+™ constitutes a robust optimisation of NIS4® technology for the detection of at-risk NASH. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS The development of non-invasive tests for accurate, large-scale detection of patients with at-risk non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH; defined as NASH with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score ≥4 and fibrosis stage ≥2) - who are at higher risk for disease progression and for developing liver-related life-threatening outcomes - is critical for identifying this patient population in the clinical setting and improving the screening process of NASH clinical trials. We report the development and validation of NIS2+™, a diagnostic test designed as an optimisation of NIS4® technology, a blood-based panel currently used to detect at-risk NASH in patients with metabolic risk factors. NIS2+™ showed improved performance for the detection of at-risk NASH compared with NIS4® and other non-invasive liver tests that was not impacted by patients' characteristics of interest, such as age, sex, type 2 diabetes mellitus, BMI, dyslipidaemia, and hypertension. This makes NIS2+™ a robust and reliable tool for the diagnosis of at-risk NASH among patients with metabolic risk factors, and an effective candidate for large-scale implementation in clinical practice and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A Harrison
- Summit Clinical Research, San Antonio, TX, USA; Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Vlad Ratziu
- Sorbonne Université, Institute for Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bart Staels
- Université de Lille, INSERM, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Quentin M Anstee
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Arun J Sanyal
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
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Taru MG, Lupsor-Platon M. Exploring Opportunities to Enhance the Screening and Surveillance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) through Risk Stratification Algorithms Incorporating Ultrasound Elastography. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4097. [PMID: 37627125 PMCID: PMC10452922 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15164097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), with its progressive form, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), has emerged as a significant public health concern, affecting over 30% of the global population. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a complication associated with both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic NAFLD, has shown a significant increase in incidence. A substantial proportion of NAFLD-related HCC occurs in non-cirrhotic livers, highlighting the need for improved risk stratification and surveillance strategies. This comprehensive review explores the potential role of liver ultrasound elastography as a risk assessment tool for HCC development in NAFLD and highlights the importance of effective screening tools for early, cost-effective detection and improved management of NAFLD-related HCC. The integration of non-invasive tools and algorithms into risk stratification strategies could have the capacity to enhance NAFLD-related HCC screening and surveillance effectiveness. Alongside exploring the potential advancement of non-invasive tools and algorithms for effectively stratifying HCC risk in NAFLD, we offer essential perspectives that could enable readers to improve the personalized assessment of NAFLD-related HCC risk through a more methodical screening approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madalina-Gabriela Taru
- Hepatology Department, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology “Octavian Fodor”, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Monica Lupsor-Platon
- “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Medical Imaging Department, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology “Octavian Fodor”, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Vali Y, Lee J, Boursier J, Petta S, Wonders K, Tiniakos D, Bedossa P, Geier A, Francque S, Allison M, Papatheodoridis G, Cortez-Pinto H, Pais R, Dufour JF, Leeming DJ, Harrison SA, Chen Y, Cobbold JF, Pavlides M, Holleboom AG, Yki-Jarvinen H, Crespo J, Karsdal M, Ostroff R, Zafarmand MH, Torstenson R, Duffin K, Yunis C, Brass C, Ekstedt M, Aithal GP, Schattenberg JM, Bugianesi E, Romero-Gomez M, Ratziu V, Anstee QM, Bossuyt PM. Biomarkers for staging fibrosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (the LITMUS project): a comparative diagnostic accuracy study. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 8:714-725. [PMID: 36958367 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(23)00017-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The reference standard for detecting non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and staging fibrosis-liver biopsy-is invasive and resource intensive. Non-invasive biomarkers are urgently needed, but few studies have compared these biomarkers in a single cohort. As part of the Liver Investigation: Testing Marker Utility in Steatohepatitis (LITMUS) project, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 17 biomarkers and multimarker scores in detecting NASH and clinically significant fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and identify their optimal cutoffs as screening tests in clinical trial recruitment. METHODS This was a comparative diagnostic accuracy study in people with biopsy-confirmed NAFLD from 13 countries across Europe, recruited between Jan 6, 2010, and Dec 29, 2017, from the LITMUS metacohort of the prospective European NAFLD Registry. Adults (aged ≥18 years) with paired liver biopsy and serum samples were eligible; those with excessive alcohol consumption or evidence of other chronic liver diseases were excluded. The diagnostic accuracy of the biomarkers was expressed as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) with liver histology as the reference standard and compared with the Fibrosis-4 index for liver fibrosis (FIB-4) in the same subgroup. Target conditions were the presence of NASH with clinically significant fibrosis (ie, at-risk NASH; NAFLD Activity Score ≥4 and F≥2) or the presence of advanced fibrosis (F≥3), analysed in all participants with complete data. We identified thres holds for each biomarker for reducing the number of biopsy-based screen failures when recruiting people with both NASH and clinically significant fibrosis for future trials. FINDINGS Of 1430 participants with NAFLD in the LITMUS metacohort with serum samples, 966 (403 women and 563 men) were included after all exclusion criteria had been applied. 335 (35%) of 966 participants had biopsy-confirmed NASH and clinically significant fibrosis and 271 (28%) had advanced fibrosis. For people with NASH and clinically significant fibrosis, no single biomarker or multimarker score significantly reached the predefined AUC 0·80 acceptability threshold (AUCs ranging from 0·61 [95% CI 0·54-0·67] for FibroScan controlled attenuation parameter to 0·81 [0·75-0·86] for SomaSignal), with accuracy mostly similar to FIB-4. Regarding detection of advanced fibrosis, SomaSignal (AUC 0·90 [95% CI 0·86-0·94]), ADAPT (0·85 [0·81-0·89]), and FibroScan liver stiffness measurement (0·83 [0·80-0·86]) reached acceptable accuracy. With 11 of 17 markers, histological screen failure rates could be reduced to 33% in trials if only people who were marker positive had a biopsy for evaluating eligibility. The best screening performance for NASH and clinically significant fibrosis was observed for SomaSignal (number needed to test [NNT] to find one true positive was four [95% CI 4-5]), then ADAPT (six [5-7]), MACK-3 (seven [6-8]), and PRO-C3 (nine [7-11]). INTERPRETATION None of the single markers or multimarker scores achieved the predefined acceptable AUC for replacing biopsy in detecting people with both NASH and clinically significant fibrosis. However, several biomarkers could be applied in a prescreening strategy in clinical trial recruitment. The performance of promising markers will be further evaluated in the ongoing prospective LITMUS study cohort. FUNDING The Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasaman Vali
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jenny Lee
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jerome Boursier
- Laboratoire Hémodynamique, Interaction Fibrose et Invasivité Tumorales Hépatiques, University Paris Research, Structure Fédérative de Recherche, Interactions Cellulaires et Applications Thérapeutiques 4208, University of Angers, Angers, France; Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology and Digestive Oncology, University Hospital of Angers, Angers, France
| | - Salvatore Petta
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Promozione della Salute, Materno-Infantile, di Medicina Interna e Specialistica di Eccellenza, Department, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Kristy Wonders
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Dina Tiniakos
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Department of Pathology, Aretaieion Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Pierre Bedossa
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Andreas Geier
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine II, Wurzburg University Hospital, Wurzburg, Germany
| | - Sven Francque
- Department of Gastroenterology Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Paediatrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mike Allison
- Liver Unit, Department of Medicine, Cambridge National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge University National Health Service Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Helena Cortez-Pinto
- University Clinic of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Raluca Pais
- Public Assistance Hospital of Paris, Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Francois Dufour
- Hepatology, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Yu Chen
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jeremy F Cobbold
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Oxford National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK
| | - Michael Pavlides
- Department of Medicine, Oxford National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Adriaan G Holleboom
- Department of Internal and Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hannele Yki-Jarvinen
- Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Javier Crespo
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Valdecilla Health Research Institute, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Santander, Spain
| | | | | | - Mohammad Hadi Zafarmand
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Richard Torstenson
- Cardiovascular, Renal or Metabolism Regulatory Affairs, AstraZeneca, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Kevin Duffin
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Carla Yunis
- Clinical Development and Operations, Pfizer, Lake Mary, FL, USA
| | | | - Mattias Ekstedt
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Guruprasad P Aithal
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, National Institute for Health and Care Research Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Jörn M Schattenberg
- Metabolic Liver Research Program, Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Elisabetta Bugianesi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Gastro-Hepatology, City of Health and Science of Turin, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Manuel Romero-Gomez
- Digestive Diseases, Virgen of Rocio University Hospital, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, Department of Medicine, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Vlad Ratziu
- Public Assistance Hospital of Paris, Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Quentin M Anstee
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Newcastle National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals National Health Service Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
| | - Patrick M Bossuyt
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Sebastiani G. The quest for the ideal NASH biomarker. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 8:685-687. [PMID: 36958368 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(23)00063-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Giada Sebastiani
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada.
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45
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Armandi A, Michel M, Gjini K, Emrich T, Bugianesi E, Schattenberg JM. Emerging concepts in the detection of liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2023; 23:771-782. [PMID: 37505901 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2023.2242779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The non-invasive identification of liver fibrosis related to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is crucial for risk-stratification of patients. Currently, the reference standard to stage hepatic fibrosis relies on liver biopsy, but multiple approaches are developed to allow for non-invasive diagnosis and risk stratification. Non-invasive tests, including blood-based scores and vibration-controlled transient elastography, have been widely validated and represent a good surrogate for risk stratification according to recent European and American guidelines. AREAS COVERED Novel approaches are based on 'liquid' biomarkers of liver fibrogenesis, including collagen-derived markers (PRO-C3 or PRO-C6), or 'multi-omics' technologies (e.g. proteomic-based molecules or miRNA testing), bearing the advantage of tailoring the intrahepatic disease activity. Alternative approaches are based on 'dry' biomarkers, including magnetic resonance-based tools (including proton density fat fraction, magnetic resonance elastography, or corrected T1), which reach similar accuracy of liver histology and will potentially help identify the best candidates for pharmacological treatment of fibrosing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. EXPERT OPINION In the near future, the sequential use of non-invasive tests, as well as the complimentary use of liquid and dry biomarkers according to the clinical need (diagnosis, risk stratification, and prognosis, or treatment response) will guide and improve the management of this liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Armandi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Metabolic Liver Research Program, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Maurice Michel
- Metabolic Liver Research Program, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Kamela Gjini
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Tilman Emrich
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Centre Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Elisabetta Bugianesi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso Dogliotti 14, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Jorn M Schattenberg
- Metabolic Liver Research Program, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
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Lee J, Westphal M, Vali Y, Boursier J, Petta S, Ostroff R, Alexander L, Chen Y, Fournier C, Geier A, Francque S, Wonders K, Tiniakos D, Bedossa P, Allison M, Papatheodoridis G, Cortez-Pinto H, Pais R, Dufour JF, Leeming DJ, Harrison S, Cobbold J, Holleboom AG, Yki-Järvinen H, Crespo J, Ekstedt M, Aithal GP, Bugianesi E, Romero-Gomez M, Torstenson R, Karsdal M, Yunis C, Schattenberg JM, Schuppan D, Ratziu V, Brass C, Duffin K, Zwinderman K, Pavlides M, Anstee QM, Bossuyt PM. Machine learning algorithm improves the detection of NASH (NAS-based) and at-risk NASH: A development and validation study. Hepatology 2023; 78:258-271. [PMID: 36994719 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Detecting NASH remains challenging, while at-risk NASH (steatohepatitis and F≥ 2) tends to progress and is of interest for drug development and clinical application. We developed prediction models by supervised machine learning techniques, with clinical data and biomarkers to stage and grade patients with NAFLD. APPROACH AND RESULTS Learning data were collected in the Liver Investigation: Testing Marker Utility in Steatohepatitis metacohort (966 biopsy-proven NAFLD adults), staged and graded according to NASH CRN. Conditions of interest were the clinical trial definition of NASH (NAS ≥ 4;53%), at-risk NASH (NASH with F ≥ 2;35%), significant (F ≥ 2;47%), and advanced fibrosis (F ≥ 3;28%). Thirty-five predictors were included. Missing data were handled by multiple imputations. Data were randomly split into training/validation (75/25) sets. A gradient boosting machine was applied to develop 2 models for each condition: clinical versus extended (clinical and biomarkers). Two variants of the NASH and at-risk NASH models were constructed: direct and composite models.Clinical gradient boosting machine models for steatosis/inflammation/ballooning had AUCs of 0.94/0.79/0.72. There were no improvements when biomarkers were included. The direct NASH model produced AUCs (clinical/extended) of 0.61/0.65. The composite NASH model performed significantly better (0.71) for both variants. The composite at-risk NASH model had an AUC of 0.83 (clinical and extended), an improvement over the direct model. Significant fibrosis models had AUCs (clinical/extended) of 0.76/0.78. The extended advanced fibrosis model (0.86) performed significantly better than the clinical version (0.82). CONCLUSIONS Detection of NASH and at-risk NASH can be improved by constructing independent machine learning models for each component, using only clinical predictors. Adding biomarkers only improved the accuracy of fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Lee
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Max Westphal
- Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Yasaman Vali
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jerome Boursier
- Department of Hepatology, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Salvatorre Petta
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Promozione della Salute, Materno-Infantile, di Medicina Interna e Specialistica di Eccellenza, Department, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | | | | | - Yu Chen
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company Ltd (LLY), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Andreas Geier
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine II, Wurzburg University Hospital, Wurzburg, Germany
| | - Sven Francque
- Department of Gastroenterology Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, and Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Paediatrics, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kristy Wonders
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Dina Tiniakos
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Department of Pathology, Aretaieion Hospital, national and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Pierre Bedossa
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Mike Allison
- Liver Unit, Department of Medicine, Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust, CB2 0QQ, Cambridge, UK
| | - Georgios Papatheodoridis
- Gastroenterology Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, General Hospital of Athens "Laiko", Athens, Greece
| | - Helena Cortez-Pinto
- Clínica Universitária de Gastrenterologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Raluca Pais
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, Sorbonne University, ICAN (Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition), Paris, France
| | - Jean-Francois Dufour
- Hepatology, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Stephen Harrison
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Jeremy Cobbold
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Adriaan G Holleboom
- Department of Internal and Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, location AMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hannele Yki-Järvinen
- Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland; Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Javier Crespo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla. Research Institute Valdecilla-IDIVAL, Santander, Spain
| | - Mattias Ekstedt
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Guruprasad P Aithal
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Elisabetta Bugianesi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Gastro-Hepatology, A.O. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Manuel Romero-Gomez
- UCM Digestive Diseases, ciberehd, Virgen del Rocio University Hospital. Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (CSIC/HUVR/US), Department of Medicine, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Richard Torstenson
- Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism Regulatory Affairs, AstraZeneca, Mölndal, Sweden
| | | | - Carla Yunis
- Internal Medicine and Hospital, Global Product Development, Pfizer, Inc, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jörn M Schattenberg
- Metabolic Liver Research Program, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Detlef Schuppan
- Institute of Translational Immunology and Research Center for Immune Therapy, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Vlad Ratziu
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, Sorbonne University, ICAN (Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition), Paris, France
| | - Clifford Brass
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey
| | - Kevin Duffin
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company Ltd (LLY), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Koos Zwinderman
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Quentin M Anstee
- Department of Gastroenterology Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, and Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Paediatrics, University of Antwerp, Belgium
- Newcastle NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Patrick M Bossuyt
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Harrison SA, Loomba R, Dubourg J, Ratziu V, Noureddin M. Clinical Trial Landscape in NASH. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 21:2001-2014. [PMID: 37059159 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2023.03.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease consists of a spectrum starting from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease that may progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, or even liver failure. The prevalence of NASH has increased in parallel with the rising rate of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Given the high prevalence and deadly complications of NASH, there have been significant efforts to develop effective treatments. Phase 2A studies have assessed various mechanisms of action across the spectrum of the disease, while phase 3 studies have focused mainly on NASH and fibrosis stage 2 and higher, as these patients have a higher risk of disease morbidity and mortality. The primary efficacy endpoints also vary, by using noninvasive tests in early-phase trials while relying on liver histological endpoints in phase 3 studies as required by regulatory agencies. Despite initial disappointment due to the failure of several drugs, recent phase 2 and 3 studies have shown promising results, with the first Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for NASH expected to be approved in 2023. In this review, we discuss the various drugs under development for NASH, their mechanisms of action, and the results of their clinical trials. We also highlight the potential challenges in developing pharmacological therapies for NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A Harrison
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Pinnacle Clinical Research, San Antonio, Texas.
| | - Rohit Loomba
- NAFLD Liver Center, Division of Gastroenterology, University of California San Diego, San Diego California
| | | | - Vlad Ratziu
- Institute for Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Mazen Noureddin
- Houston Research Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas
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Alonso-Peña M, Del Barrio M, Peleteiro-Vigil A, Jimenez-Gonzalez C, Santos-Laso A, Arias-Loste MT, Iruzubieta P, Crespo J. Innovative Therapeutic Approaches in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: When Knowing Your Patient Is Key. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10718. [PMID: 37445895 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a spectrum of disorders ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Hepatic steatosis may result from the dysfunction of multiple pathways and thus multiple molecular triggers involved in the disease have been described. The development of NASH entails the activation of inflammatory and fibrotic processes. Furthermore, NAFLD is also strongly associated with several extra-hepatic comorbidities, i.e., metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. Due to the heterogeneity of NAFLD presentations and the multifactorial etiology of the disease, clinical trials for NAFLD treatment are testing a wide range of interventions and drugs, with little success. Here, we propose a narrative review of the different phenotypic characteristics of NAFLD patients, whose disease may be triggered by different agents and driven along different pathophysiological pathways. Thus, correct phenotyping of NAFLD patients and personalized treatment is an innovative therapeutic approach that may lead to better therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Alonso-Peña
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Clinical and Translational Research in Digestive Diseases, Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL), Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Maria Del Barrio
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Clinical and Translational Research in Digestive Diseases, Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL), Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Ana Peleteiro-Vigil
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Clinical and Translational Research in Digestive Diseases, Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL), Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Carolina Jimenez-Gonzalez
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Clinical and Translational Research in Digestive Diseases, Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL), Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Alvaro Santos-Laso
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Clinical and Translational Research in Digestive Diseases, Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL), Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Maria Teresa Arias-Loste
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Clinical and Translational Research in Digestive Diseases, Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL), Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Paula Iruzubieta
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Clinical and Translational Research in Digestive Diseases, Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL), Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Javier Crespo
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Clinical and Translational Research in Digestive Diseases, Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL), Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, 39011 Santander, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Allaume P, Rabilloud N, Turlin B, Bardou-Jacquet E, Loréal O, Calderaro J, Khene ZE, Acosta O, De Crevoisier R, Rioux-Leclercq N, Pecot T, Kammerer-Jacquet SF. Artificial Intelligence-Based Opportunities in Liver Pathology-A Systematic Review. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13101799. [PMID: 37238283 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13101799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) can handle a wide range of applications in image analysis, ranging from automated segmentation to diagnostic and prediction. As such, they have revolutionized healthcare, including in the liver pathology field. OBJECTIVE The present study aims to provide a systematic review of applications and performances provided by DNN algorithms in liver pathology throughout the Pubmed and Embase databases up to December 2022, for tumoral, metabolic and inflammatory fields. RESULTS 42 articles were selected and fully reviewed. Each article was evaluated through the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool, highlighting their risks of bias. CONCLUSIONS DNN-based models are well represented in the field of liver pathology, and their applications are diverse. Most studies, however, presented at least one domain with a high risk of bias according to the QUADAS-2 tool. Hence, DNN models in liver pathology present future opportunities and persistent limitations. To our knowledge, this review is the first one solely focused on DNN-based applications in liver pathology, and to evaluate their bias through the lens of the QUADAS2 tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Allaume
- Department of Pathology CHU de Rennes, Rennes 1 University, Pontchaillou Hospital, 2 rue Henri Le Guilloux, CEDEX 09, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Noémie Rabilloud
- Impact TEAM, Laboratoire Traitement du Signal et de l'Image (LTSI) INSERM, Rennes 1 University, Pontchaillou Hospital, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Bruno Turlin
- Department of Pathology CHU de Rennes, Rennes 1 University, Pontchaillou Hospital, 2 rue Henri Le Guilloux, CEDEX 09, 35033 Rennes, France
- Research Unit n°UMR1341 NuMeCan-Nutrition, Métabolismes et Cancer, Rennes 1 University, Pontchaillou Hospital, 2 rue Henri Le Guilloux, CEDEX 09, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Edouard Bardou-Jacquet
- Research Unit n°UMR1341 NuMeCan-Nutrition, Métabolismes et Cancer, Rennes 1 University, Pontchaillou Hospital, 2 rue Henri Le Guilloux, CEDEX 09, 35033 Rennes, France
- Department of Liver Diseases CHU de Rennes, Rennes 1 University, Pontchaillou Hospital, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Olivier Loréal
- Research Unit n°UMR1341 NuMeCan-Nutrition, Métabolismes et Cancer, Rennes 1 University, Pontchaillou Hospital, 2 rue Henri Le Guilloux, CEDEX 09, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Julien Calderaro
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Department of Pathology Henri Mondor, 94000 Créteil, France
- INSERM U955, Team Pathophysiology and Therapy of Chronic Viral Hepatitis and Related Cancers, 94000 Créteil, France
| | - Zine-Eddine Khene
- Impact TEAM, Laboratoire Traitement du Signal et de l'Image (LTSI) INSERM, Rennes 1 University, Pontchaillou Hospital, 35033 Rennes, France
- Department of Urology, CHU de Rennes, Rennes 1 University, Pontchaillou Hospital, 2 rue Henri Le Guilloux, CEDEX 09, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Oscar Acosta
- Impact TEAM, Laboratoire Traitement du Signal et de l'Image (LTSI) INSERM, Rennes 1 University, Pontchaillou Hospital, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Renaud De Crevoisier
- Impact TEAM, Laboratoire Traitement du Signal et de l'Image (LTSI) INSERM, Rennes 1 University, Pontchaillou Hospital, 35033 Rennes, France
- Department of Radiotherapy, Centre Eugène Marquis, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Nathalie Rioux-Leclercq
- Department of Pathology CHU de Rennes, Rennes 1 University, Pontchaillou Hospital, 2 rue Henri Le Guilloux, CEDEX 09, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Thierry Pecot
- Biosit Platform UAR 3480 CNRS US18 INSERM U955, Rennes 1 University, Pontchaillou Hospital, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Solène-Florence Kammerer-Jacquet
- Department of Pathology CHU de Rennes, Rennes 1 University, Pontchaillou Hospital, 2 rue Henri Le Guilloux, CEDEX 09, 35033 Rennes, France
- Impact TEAM, Laboratoire Traitement du Signal et de l'Image (LTSI) INSERM, Rennes 1 University, Pontchaillou Hospital, 35033 Rennes, France
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Francque S, Ratziu V. Future Treatment Options and Regimens for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Clin Liver Dis 2023; 27:429-449. [PMID: 37024217 DOI: 10.1016/j.cld.2023.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent progress in our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms that drive progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis as well as lessons learned from several clinical trials that have been conducted over the past 15 years guide our current regulatory framework and trial design. Targeting the metabolic drivers should probably be the backbone of therapy in most of the patients, with some requiring more specific intrahepatic antiinflammatory and antifibrotic actions to achieve success. New and innovative targets and approaches as well as combination therapies are currently explored, while awaiting a better understanding of disease heterogeneity that should allow for future individualized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Francque
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium; Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Paediatrics (LEMP), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; InflaMed Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Translational Sciences in Inflammation and Immunology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat 665, Edegem B-2650, Belgium.
| | - Vlad Ratziu
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux De Paris, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, Paris Cedex 13 75651, France; INSERM UMRS 1138 CRC, Paris, France.
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