International Study of High-Risk Patients for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Liquid Biopsy

Last updated: January 14, 2025
Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Abdominal Cancer

Digestive System Neoplasms

Cancer/tumors

Treatment

GALAD Score

Clinical Study ID

NCT05342350
IRB00250209
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

This study has two purposes. One is to conduct a phase IV biomarker validation study in which the investigators will prospectively survey a cohort of patients at risk for liver cancer using semi-annual abdominal ultrasound and GALAD Score for 5 years. The GALAD score is a serum biomarker-based panel that can aid in early detection among patients with a high risk for liver cancer. One is to establish a bio-repository of longitudinally collected bio-specimens from patients with fibrosis/cirrhosis as a reference set for future research.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Provision of signed and dated informed consent form

  2. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for theduration of the study and up to 5 years post-study follow up

  3. Adults aged 18 or older

  4. Both genders and all ethnicities

  5. Willingness to give written, informed consent to be enrolled into the database

  6. Collection of biosamples (serum, plasma, and urine) at each of the 6 months followup during the study duration

  7. Individuals already confirmed to have cirrhosis with MELD ≤ 15 from any etiology (chronic HBV, chronic HCV, NASH cirrhosis, etc.)

  8. For chronic HBV and/or /HCV carrier, with or without on treatment

  9. Reside in Vietnam or Saudi Arabia at the time of study and provides contactinformation (email and/or cell phone number for texting)

  10. No prior or current treatment of HCC

  11. No cancer history within 5 years

  12. No participation in a trial for HCC Treatment

  13. No prior solid organ transplant

  14. Albumin, Bilirubin, Creatinine and INR labs within past 30 days

  15. Imaging showing no HCC within 180 days

  16. Diagnosis of fibrosis and cirrhosis based on: histology, image showing cirrhoticliver with splenomegaly and platelets <120 mm3, or esophageal or gastric varices onendoscopy AND presence of chronic liver disease/Fibroscan/Fib-4/APRI/ARFI. For viralhepatitis, kPa>=9kPa, APRI >=1; for NAFLD/NASH (FIB-4 > 1.3 & TE > 8kPa)

  17. No significant hepatic decompensation

  18. No hepatorenal syndrome

  19. AFP labs within 180 days irrespective of AFP titer

  20. Two phone numbers and personal identification numbers (CMND number)

  21. No known AIDS related diseases

  22. No significant co-morbid conditions with life expectancy <5 years

  23. No other cancer(s)

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Decompensated cirrhosis (variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, ascites,spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and/or hepatorenal syndrome) or MELD>15

  2. Individuals who already have HCC, with or without HCC treatment

  3. On liver transplantation list or anticipated to be on the liver transplantation listduring the study duration

  4. Individuals who cannot, do not want to, or refused to sign the informed consent form (ICF)

  5. Any serious or active medical or psychiatric illness, which, in the opinion of theinvestigator, would interfere with patient treatment, assessment or compliance withthe protocol

  6. Documentation was not adequate

  7. Taking Vitamin K within 7 days prior to clinic follow or having disease affectingVitamin K levels.

  8. Known HIV positive

  9. Active drug use or dependence that, in the opinion of the study investigator, wouldinterfere with adherence to study requirements

Study Design

Total Participants: 1600
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: GALAD Score
Phase:
Study Start date:
April 15, 2022
Estimated Completion Date:
July 01, 2027

Study Description

Vietnam and Saudi Arabia have some of the highest disease burdens of liver cancer globally. Early detection in asymptomatic patients who are at risk for liver is a strategy to improve survival outcomes in liver cancer management. GALAD score (gender, age, alpha-feto protein (AFP)-L%, AFP and DCP) is a serum biomarker-based panel that can improve HCC early detection in patients with liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. In case-control studies and studies with the design of prospective specimen collection, and retrospective blinded evaluation, GALAD has demonstrated promising clinical utility. However, in order to ascertain its potential role in the surveillance of liver cancer early detection, GALAD needs to be validated prospectively for clinical surveillance of liver cancer (i.e. phase IV biomarker validation study). Thus, the investigators propose to conduct a phase IV biomarker validation study to prospectively survey a cohort of patients at risk for HCC (i.e. patients with compensated cirrhosis and irrespective of cirrhosis etiologies), using semi-annual abdominal ultrasound and GALAD Score for 5 years. In doing so, the investigators aim to validate the potential role of GALAD Score for clinical surveillance and early detection of HCC in Vietnam and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the investigators will collect and archive biospecimens to develop a bio-repository for liver disease. The biorepository will encourage the sharing of biospecimens and collaboration among physicians or physician-researchers between the US, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia.

Connect with a study center

  • King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah

    Jeddah,
    Saudi Arabia

    Active - Recruiting

  • National Guard Hospital in Jeddah

    Jeddah,
    Saudi Arabia

    Active - Recruiting

  • King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh

    Riyadh,
    Saudi Arabia

    Active - Recruiting

  • King Saud University Medical Center

    Riyadh,
    Saudi Arabia

    Site Not Available

  • National Guard Hospital in Riyadh

    Riyadh,
    Saudi Arabia

    Site Not Available

  • Binh An Hospital

    Rach Gia, Kien Giang
    Vietnam

    Site Not Available

  • Medic Ca Mau

    Ca Mau,
    Vietnam

    Site Not Available

  • Dong Da Hospital

    Ha Noi,
    Vietnam

    Site Not Available

  • Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

    Ha Noi,
    Vietnam

    Site Not Available

  • Medic Medical Center-Ho Chi Minh City

    Ho Chi Minh City,
    Vietnam

    Site Not Available

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