Hepatocarcinoma

Optimization of diagnosis modalities of primary liver tumors, improvement of prognostic ability, and research of new treatment modalities for hepatocarcinoma.

TOPICS

The research group is concerned with the development of imaging diagnostic modalities of primary liver tumors, the improvement of their prognostic evaluation, and the search for new surgical, transplantation, interventional, and pharmacological treatment modalities. On the latter aspect, many trials have been conducted from which publications in high-profile journals have originated, concerning the results of registration trials of sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, and cabozantinib. Other trials are still ongoing.

The center is a national and international clinical reference, having contributed directly to the development and writing of national and international guidelines on the subject. In addition, the research group is involved in basic research related to the mechanisms of development and progression of hepatocarcinoma. Particular focus of research are microRNAs and NOTCH genes, which the research center was among the first to help highlight involved in hepatocarcinoma (leading to a patent). Activities are carried out at the CRBA Center for Applied Biomedical Research. Finally, the research group is concerned with clinical applications of new ultrasound technologies with particular reference to liver applications. It has promoted and coordinated multiple international guidelines on these topics and is recognized as a worldwide scientific reference center of liver ultrasound.

The Group was a winner of funds in competitive projects in the field of hepatocarcinoma from the European Union (FP7 program) and U.S. NIH funds in addition to Italian national funding.

OBJECTIVES

• Optimization of imaging modalities of primary liver tumors
• Identification of new clinical, laboratory, and instrumental predictors of patient prognosis and response to treatments.
• Search for new surgical, transplantation, interventional and pharmacological treatment modalities.

The following personnel from the IRCCS AUO in Bologna also collaborate.

Dr.ssa Laura Gramantieri, Dr.ssa Eleonora Terzi, Dr.ssa Simona Leoni, Dr.ssa Sara Marinelli.