Dr. Samuel Amintas

Molecular signature of Alpha 1-Antitrypsin deficiency-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract:

Liver cancer is markedly increased in individuals with severe Alpha 1-AntiTrypsin Deficiency (AATD), phenotype PiZZ, with a 23-fold increased hazard ratio compared to the general population and a survival time after diagnosis reduced to <2 years. These results are in the line with a previously published study, that has shown that 82% of 16-20 month old transgenic AATD Z mutant mice develop invasive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These findings suggest that the Z mutant could induce or participate in one or multiple specific carcinogenesis pathways. However, nothing is known about the molecular mechanisms of AATD-related HCC.

Therefore, our goal is to determine the specific molecular signature of AATD-related HCC and decipher the molecular mechanism of the Z variant and its potential co-factors in AATD carcinogenesis.

Short biography:

Dr Samuel Amintas obtained is Pharmacy and Clinical Biology degree in 2018. He then completed it in 2022 by a PhD in Cell Biology and Pathophysiology. He is now clinical biologist at the Tumor Biology and Tumor Bank Department, University Hospital of Bordeaux and also researcher at the Bordeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC), France. Dr Amintas is an expert in molecular biology of cancer, in particular in digestive tumors. In collaboration with Dr. Marion Bouchecareilh’s Lab at the BRIC, Dr Amintas aims to provide for the first-time insight in AATD hepatic tumor biology, allowing a better comprehension of the molecular mechanisms involved and consequently allow an optimization of the management of AATD patients with regard to liver cancer prevention and treatment.