Semaglutide reduces tumor burden in the GAN diet-induced obese and biopsy-confirmed mouse model of NASH-HCC with advanced fibrosis

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  • Henrik H Hansen
  • Susanne Pors
  • Maja W Andersen
  • Mogens Vyberg
  • Jacob Nøhr-Meldgaard
  • Malte Hasle Nielsen
  • Denise Oró
  • Martin Rønn Madsen
  • Lewinska, Monika
  • Mathias B Møllerhøj
  • Andreas Nygaard Madsen
  • Michael Feigh

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is emerging as a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however, it is not resolved if compounds in late-stage clinical development for NASH may have additional therapeutic benefits in NASH-driven HCC (NASH-HCC). Here, we profiled monotherapy with semaglutide (glucagon-like-receptor-1 receptor agonist) and lanifibranor (pan-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist) in a diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse model of NASH-HCC. Disease progression was characterized in male C57BL/6 J mice fed the GAN (Gubra Amylin NASH) diet high in fat, fructose and cholesterol for 12-72 weeks (n = 15 per group). Other GAN DIO-NASH-HCC mice fed the GAN diet for 54 weeks and with biopsy-confirmed NASH (NAFLD Activity Score ≥ 5) and advanced fibrosis (stage F3) received vehicle (n = 16), semaglutide (30 nmol/kg, s.c., n = 15), or lanifibranor (30 mg/kg, p.o., n = 15) once daily for 14 weeks. GAN DIO-NASH-HCC mice demonstrated progressive NASH, fibrosis and HCC burden. Tumors presented with histological and molecular signatures of poor prognostic HCC. Consistent with clinical trial outcomes in NASH patients, both lanifibranor and semaglutide improved NASH while only lanifibranor reduced fibrosis in GAN DIO-NASH-HCC mice. Notably, only semaglutide reduced tumor burden in GAN DIO-NASH-HCC mice. In conclusion, the GAN DIO-NASH-HCC mouse is a clinical translational model of NASH-HCC. Semaglutide improves both NASH and tumor burden in GAN DIO-NASH-HCC mice, highlighting the suitability of this preclinical model for profiling novel drug therapies targeting NASH-HCC.

Original languageEnglish
Article number23056
JournalScientific Reports
Volume13
Issue number1
Number of pages19
ISSN2045-2322
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

© 2023. The Author(s).

    Research areas

  • Humans, Mice, Animals, Male, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/complications, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/etiology, Liver/pathology, Tumor Burden, Liver Neoplasms/pathology, Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Obesity/complications, Liver Cirrhosis/pathology, Disease Models, Animal, Biopsy/adverse effects

ID: 387699287