Recently a study centering on early screening of liver cancer based on cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and protein markers in a prospective cohort of hepatitis B virus carriers completed by the National Cancer Institute/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital in cooperation with Genetron Health was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). After strict clinical verification, the study is expected to be applied to early screening of liver cancer.
Utilizing the self-developed Liquid biopsy combining cfDNA gene mutation and protein markers–––HCCscreen, the study performed well in this cohort of challenging asymptomatic HBV carriers. The study screened 331 hepatitis B virus carriers with normal alpha-fetoprotein and normal B-mode ultrasound results. As a result of the screening, a total of 24 positive samples were detected, and 4 cases of liver cancer (all are early liver cancers less than 3 cm) were found during follow-up visits at 6 to 8 months. Thanks to early detection, the tumor can be resected by surgery, thus giving rise to a better prognosis. In the same follow-up period for the remaining 307 patients with negative test results, no case of liver cancer was found. Therefore, 100% sensitivity, 94% specificity, and 17% positive predictive value were achieved in this study cohort.
Mr. Wang Sizhen, co-founder and CEO of Genetron Health, pointed out that remarkable results in the control of morbidity and mortality of some cancers were achieved in some foreign countries, such as colorectal cancer in the United States and gastric cancer in Japan. All these achievements are attributed to early screening and diagnosis of cancer. Therefore, Genetron Health is looking to detecting liver cancer in an earlier and faster manner through this innovative technological breakthrough in early screening of liver cancer. In addition, Beijing Genetron Health Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Genetron Health”), based on the achievement of early screening of liver cancer, keeps optimizing the existing technology platforms and applies the improved early screening to other cancers, so as to facilitate the achievement transformation. Thus, the general health condition in China may be lifted through early detection and treatment of various cancers in vulnerable or health population. ”
In this research, the liver cancer in early stage can be detected via blood from asymptomatic HBV carrier. Along with the tested population, the research team is also using this technology to conduct multi-center, large-scale, prospective and systematic cohort studies on other population and, by so doing, to further perfect screening.
Utilizing the self-developed Liquid biopsy combining cfDNA gene mutation and protein markers–––HCCscreen, the study performed well in this cohort of challenging asymptomatic HBV carriers. The study screened 331 hepatitis B virus carriers with normal alpha-fetoprotein and normal B-mode ultrasound results. As a result of the screening, a total of 24 positive samples were detected, and 4 cases of liver cancer (all are early liver cancers less than 3 cm) were found during follow-up visits at 6 to 8 months. Thanks to early detection, the tumor can be resected by surgery, thus giving rise to a better prognosis. In the same follow-up period for the remaining 307 patients with negative test results, no case of liver cancer was found. Therefore, 100% sensitivity, 94% specificity, and 17% positive predictive value were achieved in this study cohort.
Mr. Wang Sizhen, co-founder and CEO of Genetron Health, pointed out that remarkable results in the control of morbidity and mortality of some cancers were achieved in some foreign countries, such as colorectal cancer in the United States and gastric cancer in Japan. All these achievements are attributed to early screening and diagnosis of cancer. Therefore, Genetron Health is looking to detecting liver cancer in an earlier and faster manner through this innovative technological breakthrough in early screening of liver cancer. In addition, Beijing Genetron Health Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Genetron Health”), based on the achievement of early screening of liver cancer, keeps optimizing the existing technology platforms and applies the improved early screening to other cancers, so as to facilitate the achievement transformation. Thus, the general health condition in China may be lifted through early detection and treatment of various cancers in vulnerable or health population. ”
In this research, the liver cancer in early stage can be detected via blood from asymptomatic HBV carrier. Along with the tested population, the research team is also using this technology to conduct multi-center, large-scale, prospective and systematic cohort studies on other population and, by so doing, to further perfect screening.