Function of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in inflammation-associated liver carcinogenesis (A05)

• Subject Area: Pathology
• Term: from 2017 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 314905040

Project A05 (Angel/Damle-Vartak; Function of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in inflammation-associated liver carcinogenesis) has demonstrated the intrinsic and extrinsic roles of RAGE for the expansion of liver progenitor cells (LPC), LPC-stellate cell-crosstalk for induction of fibrosis and hepatocarcinogenesis. In the new funding period the role of RAGE for the formation of premalignant lesions and HCCs will be assessed by conditional RAGE deletion. Specific emphasis will be given to the impact of the tumor-associated immune response, LPC heterogeneity and the tumor-derived remodeling of the microenvironment focusing on the biliary network using 3D confocal imaging at subcellular resolution in premalignant lesions and developed tumors. Comparison with human HCCs will unravel the relevance of RAGE for LPC-associated ductular reaction and hepatocarcinogenesis.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 209: Liver Cancer - New mechanistic and therapeutic concepts in a solid tumor model
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Peter Angel; Dr. Amruta Damle-Vartak, since 7/2021