Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), also known as fatty liver disease, is a chronic liver condition that affects nearly 1 in 3 people worldwide. It is closely linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Unchecked, it can progress to a more severe form of disease called Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH).

Prognosticating the risk of disease progression in MASLD and MASH has traditionally involved liver biopsy, a process that involves removing a tissue sample with a hollow needle and then examining the sample under a microscope to diagnose and stage disease. However, biopsy has many limitations. Additionally, drug development for MASLD and MASH has proceeded slowly in part due to a reliance on liver biopsy to determine drug efficacy.

Recently, increasing evidence is suggesting that non-invasive options, for example, imaging examinations along with blood tests that assess likelihood of disease progression such as the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) Test, may effectively reduce the need for the more invasive alternative. Key experts in MASLD and MASH share their perspectives about how clinical evidence supports a shift in the way patients with MASLD and MASH could be evaluated in clinical practice and in research.

Host Matt Gee, Director of Collaborations and External Engagement at Siemens Healthineers, is joined by Prof. William Rosenberg, Deputy Director of the Institute for Liver and Digestive Health at University College London as well as Dr. Veronica Miller, Director of the Forum for Collaborative Research at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health; Dr. Arun Sanyal, Professor of Medicine, Physiology, and Molecular Pathology in the Division of Gastroenterology at Virginia Commonwealth University; and Dr. Michelle Long, International Medical Vice President of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis at Novo Nordisk and Associate Professor in the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Boston University.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Liver biopsy creates several obstacles for patients and has limitations
• Drug development faces challenges by the reliance on biopsy as a measure of treatment effectiveness
• Non-invasive tools may be suitable alternatives to liver biopsy both in clinical practice and in drug development

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A reversible liver condition is the fastest growing cause of liver transplantation in Western countries: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease—or MASLD—affects patients worldwide. It’s characterized by excessive fat accumulation in the liver and can progress into more severe forms of liver disease, potentially resulting in fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver failure.

Risk factors for developing liver disease include obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Genetics, unhealthy dietary habits, and a sedentary lifestyle can also play significant roles in its development. Diagnosis typically involves imaging examinations along with blood tests that assess liver function and rule out other causes of liver disease.

Disease management focuses on lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise, though new medications are now being prescribed to slow and potentially reverse this condition. Regular monitoring of disease progression is also crucial for successful treatment.

In this episode, experts in the field of liver disease address the progress happening in the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Host Matt Gee, Director of Collaborations and External Engagement at Siemens Healthineers, is joined by Dr. Michelle Long, International Medical Vice President of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis at Novo Nordisk and Director of Clinical Research for the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Boston University; Dr. Arun Sanyal, Professor of Medicine, Physiology, and Molecular Pathology in the Division of Gastroenterology at Virginia Commonwealth University; and Michael Betel, President and Founder of the Fatty Liver Alliance.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• One of the biggest obstacles to diagnosing MASLD before it progresses stems from the lack of visibility and awareness of the disease
• MASLD is a reversible disease when caught in time
• MASLD is more complex than a patient’s diet or lifestyle—metabolic dysfunction plays a role
• Non-invasive testing has become an important tool in advancing patient care

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Radiotherapy plays a vital role in cancer treatment. In Europe alone, incidents of cancer are projected to rise around 20% by 2040, mainly due to an increasingly aging population. It’s numbers like these that emphasize the importance of pushing boundaries in radiotherapy.

With AI-optimized workflows, it’s possible to speed up treatment planning and ensure highly personalized therapies and technology like auto contouring can protect healthy organs during irradiation by means of AI. This implementation, however, is often met with challenges like staff shortages and inconsistencies with data collection, highlighting the need for more efficient implementation strategies.

In this episode, experts in the fields of radiotherapy and cancer treatment address the amazing headway being made in the world of radiotherapy as well as some of the key roles that current technology can play in the future.

Host Sasa Mutic, President of Radiation Oncology Solutions at the Varian Business Area of Siemens Healthineers, is joined by Valery Lemmens, a member of the Board of Directors at Maastro Radiotherapy Clinic in the Netherlands and creator of the Dutch Cancer Atlas; as well as Joost Verhoeff, radiation oncologist and professor of radiotherapy at Amsterdam University Medical Center; and Indrin Chetty, Vice Chair and Director of the Division of Medical Physics at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• By using a digital twin, medical professionals can review existing health records and continually compare that information with patient data
• With adaptive radiotherapy, radiation dosages can be tailored to circumstances like tumor size, type, and position and proximity to vital organs
• The Dutch Cancer Atlas interprets and publishes data in a context that increases awareness of regional differences in cancer incidents
• The unique role that data plays in the advancement of cancer care
• The deep troves of data that already exist within radiotherapy departments can play a key role in the integration of AI into cancer treatments
• Widespread availability of data creates the opportunity for automated treatment planning and outcome prediction

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Indrin Chetty

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