TITLE:
Frontiers in Radiologic Imaging Techniques for Visualizing Protein Metabolism: A Focus on Hepatocellular Carcinoma
AUTHORS:
Yiran Ren, Xiangrong Yu
KEYWORDS:
Protein Metabolism, Radiologic Imaging Technique, HCC, PET, MRI
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.13 No.12,
December
4,
2025
ABSTRACT: Protein metabolism constitutes a central regulatory mechanism underpinning normal hepatic physiological function. In Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and other hepatic pathologies, critical processes governing protein homeostasis—including ribosomal synthesis, chaperone-mediated folding, post-translational modifications, and regulated degradation pathways—frequently exhibit profound dysregulation that actively drives carcinogenesis and disease progression. Contemporary radiological imaging has undergone a transformative evolution beyond conventional anatomical delineation toward multidimensional function-molecular-metabolism integration, enabling unprecedented in vivo quantification of spatiotemporal proteomic flux. This paradigm shift is primarily driven by two synergistic technological pillars: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) utilizing radiolabeled amino acid analogs to dynamically map transporter-mediated uptake kinetics and ribosomal incorporation rates, and Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer—Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CEST-MRI) exploiting endogenous proton exchange phenomena to spatially resolve protein concentration gradients and microenvironmental parameters. These advancements offer novel pathways for early HCC diagnosis, prognostic evaluation, and assessment of hepatic functional reserve. Nevertheless, widespread translational adoption faces persistent barriers, including insufficient probe specificity for HCC molecular subtypes, quantification standardization deficits across imaging platforms, and substantial cost-accessibility constraints within resource-limited settings, necessitating multidisciplinary innovation spanning molecular biology, biomedical engineering, and health economics to realize personalized HCC management paradigms.