The vision of the program is to create physiologically based mathematical models to interpret data from contemporary PET/CT and to implement these models in the clinical management of liver patients using established and novel PET-tracers. Today, examinations of the livers multiple functions are either non- specific or difficult to perform. The overall aim of our program is to develop and implement dynamic PET/CT methods that can significantly improve our understanding of the disturbed liver metabolism in the large groups of patients suffering from liver disease.
Specific aims are 1) non-invasive determination of hepatic dual input function, 2) liver microcirculation, 3) hepatic arterial buffer response, 4) tracer kinetics of regional metabolism and biliary excretion, and 5) specific molecular transport defects in liver diseases detected by dynamic, high resolution PET/CT. Design and Methods: A bench-to-bedside design constitutes the study. Based on knowledge of liver physiology, pathophysiology, and biochemistry we create new mathematical models applicable to dynamic PET/CT. We test, validate, challenge, and refine these models in pig studies before translation into human studies. Models for determining tracer input from the portal vein and the hepatic artery (dual input function) and microcirculation of the liver are investigated with 11 CO-PET and contrast-CT in anaesthetized pigs, validated with independent invasive procedures, and challenged by controlled interventions of the flow and metabolism. The refined, statistically sensitive and specific models are then translated as non-invasive procedures into humans (healthy controls and patients). 11C-Methionine and 18FDGal are investigated as suitable radio-labeled PET tracers for measuring the total and regional hepatic metabolism. To measure biliary excretory function, novel tracers (11C-RAL-01,11 C-verapamil, 11C-ICG and 18F-taurocholate) are developed and tested thoroughly in pig studies before tested in humans. Liver biopsies (pigs) and blood samples (pigs and humans) are analyzed by radio-HPLC to determine the time course of radio-labeled metabolites and to optimize kinetic modeling of tracer metabolism. The microscopic distribution of tracers in benign and malignant liver tissue is evaluated by single- and dual-tracer autoradiography. We will create new, non-invasive methods for measuring blood flow and function in the liver using sensitive PET/CT scanning. This will lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of the large groups of patients with liver disease and cancer in the liver. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK074419-03
Application #
7477885
Study Section
Medical Imaging Study Section (MEDI)
Program Officer
Serrano, Jose
Project Start
2006-09-01
Project End
2011-07-31
Budget Start
2008-08-01
Budget End
2009-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$159,274
Indirect Cost
Name
Aarhus University Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
305156471
City
Aarhus
State
Country
Denmark
Zip Code
8000
Munk, Ole L; Keiding, Susanne; Baker, Charles et al. (2017) A microvascular compartment model validated using 11C-methylglucose liver PET in pigs. Phys Med Biol 63:015032
Sørensen, Michael; Munk, Ole Lajord; Ørntoft, Nikolaj W et al. (2016) Hepatobiliary Secretion Kinetics of Conjugated Bile Acids Measured in Pigs by 11C-Cholylsarcosine PET. J Nucl Med 57:961-6
Jakobsen, Steen; Busk, Morten; Jensen, Jonas Brorson et al. (2016) A PET Tracer for Renal Organic Cation Transporters, ¹¹C-Metformin: Radiosynthesis and Preclinical Proof-of-Concept Studies. J Nucl Med 57:615-21
Trägårdh, Malene; Møller, Niels; Sørensen, Michael (2015) Methodologic Considerations for Quantitative 18F-FDG PET/CT Studies of Hepatic Glucose Metabolism in Healthy Subjects. J Nucl Med 56:1366-71
Mikkelsen, Kasper S; Sørensen, Michael; Frisch, Kim et al. (2014) The lumped constant for the galactose analog 2-18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-galactose is increased in patients with parenchymal liver disease. J Nucl Med 55:590-4
Sørensen, Michael; Mikkelsen, Kasper S; Frisch, Kim et al. (2013) Regional metabolic liver function measured in patients with cirrhosis by 2-[¹?F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-galactose PET/CT. J Hepatol 58:1119-24
Winterdahl, Michael; Sorensen, Michael; Keiding, Susanne et al. (2012) Hepatic blood perfusion estimated by dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography in pigs: limitations of the slope method. Invest Radiol 47:588-95
Keiding, Susanne (2012) Bringing physiology into PET of the liver. J Nucl Med 53:425-33
Frisch, Kim; Jakobsen, Steen; Sørensen, Michael et al. (2012) [N-methyl-11C]cholylsarcosine, a novel bile acid tracer for PET/CT of hepatic excretory function: radiosynthesis and proof-of-concept studies in pigs. J Nucl Med 53:772-8
Bass, Ludvik; Sorensen, Michael; Munk, Ole Lajord et al. (2011) Analogue tracers and lumped constant in capillary beds. J Theor Biol 285:177-81

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