Obesity, NASH & liver cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most fatal and fastest growing cancers. In recent years, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been recognized as a major HCC catalyst. However, it is difficult to decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of NASH and understand how it progresses to HCC by studying humans. Consequently, progress in this field depends on the availability of reliable preclinical models that are amenable to genetic and functional analyses and exhibit robust NASH to HCC progression. Together with our collaborators at UCSD, we have developed a mouse model of NASH driven HCC that mimics human disease. We are uncovering novel pathways and therapies to treat this condition. This project will specifically involve using in-vivo models to identify potential biomarkers that will determine if HCC will progress from the point when NASH is first observed.