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Combining Biomarkers (AFP, AFP-L3, and PIVKA-II) and Image Tools for Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Surveillance
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Liver Cirrhosis
Interventions
Diagnostic Test: AFP-L3
Diagnostic Test: AFP
Diagnostic Test: PIVKA-II
Diagnostic Test: Sonography
Diagnostic Test: CT
Registration Number
NCT04414956
Lead Sponsor
Korea University
Brief Summary

In this study, three biomarkers tests (AFP, AFP-L3 and PIVKA-II) and abdominal sonography or CT scans are performed every 6 months to detect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) early in patients with cirrhosis, a high-risk group of HCC. The aim of this study is to confirm the early HCC diagnosis rate in patients with cirrhosis and compare the detection efficacy between tests.

Detailed Description

Early diagnosis of HCC is the most important factor in improving the prognosis of the disease. A surveillance test for early diagnosis of HCC in Korea is to perform alfa fetoprotein (AFP) and abdominal sonography every 6-months in high-risk groups. However, the detection rate of HCC using AFP and abdominal sonography is very low. There are several reports that the combination of the multiple biomarker tests including AFP, AFP L3, and PIVKA-II increased the early HCC detection only one test. Therefore, in the surveillance test for HCC, the combination of three tests with sonography would be helpful in the early diagnosis of HCC. However, there was few prospective large-scale studies about this issue.

Compared with abdominal sonography, contrast-enhanced CT or MRI is more useful in finding intrahepatic lesions of liver cirrhosis. However, there is no evidence data on combining sono/CT and biomarkers could improve the diagnosis for early HCC. Thus, it is essential to verify this prospectively in the real clinical practices to make recommendations based on a high level of evidence in the future. The investigators are conducting a prospective study which examines three biomarker tests and sonography every six months and contrast-enhanced CT annually for HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
1418
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients with liver cirrhosis meeting one of the followings:

    i. Histologically confirmed liver cirrhosis ii. Imaging findings with liver cirrhosis (liver surface undulation, irregularity, or nodularity by US, CT, or MRI) plus one of followings: liver stiffness measurement ≥ 12.5 kilopascal, esophago-gastric varices, thrombocytopenia (<120,000/mm3), hypoalbuminemia (<3.5 g/dL), splenomegaly ≥12 cm) iii. Imaging findings with liver cirrhosis together with biomarkers suggesting liver cirrhosis (APRI ≥2.0 or fibrosis-4 ≥3.6) iv. Imaging findings with liver cirrhosis with history of hepatic decompensation (ascites, esophago-gastric variceal bleeding, jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy))

  • Expected survival more than 1 year

  • Child Pugh score 5-10 at the time of enrollment

  • Serum creatinine ≤1.5mg/dL

  • Age between 19 and 75 years old

  • No significant underlying medical illness affecting patient's survival

  • Patients available for regular follow-up according to the study protocol

Exclusion Criteria
  • History of HCC
  • AFP >20 ng/mL
  • Hepatic nodule ≥ 1 cm by US or CT Exceptionally, nodules showing characteristic features of benign lesion such as hemangioma or pathologically conformed benign lesion are permitted for study inclusion.
  • Hepatic nodule less than 1 cm on US but imaging findings suggesting HCC by contrast enhanced US, CT, or MRI
  • Child-Pugh score ≥ 11
  • History of liver transplantation
  • Expecting liver transplantation within 1 year
  • Hypersensitivity on CT contrast dye
  • Any contraindication for CT
  • Not able to perform abdominal US
  • Other uncontrolled malignancy
  • Patients taking warfarin

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
SurveillanceAFP-L3All participants will be examined with three biomarker tests and sonography every six months and contrast-enhanced CT annually.
SurveillanceAFPAll participants will be examined with three biomarker tests and sonography every six months and contrast-enhanced CT annually.
SurveillanceSonographyAll participants will be examined with three biomarker tests and sonography every six months and contrast-enhanced CT annually.
SurveillanceCTAll participants will be examined with three biomarker tests and sonography every six months and contrast-enhanced CT annually.
SurveillancePIVKA-IIAll participants will be examined with three biomarker tests and sonography every six months and contrast-enhanced CT annually.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
HCC occurrence3 years after enrollment

Detection of HCC occurrence by three biomarkers and two image modalities

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Early HCC occurrence3 years after enrollment

Detection of HCC less than 2cm

Trial Locations

Locations (15)

Korea University Ansan Hospital

🇰🇷

Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, Republic of

The Catholic University of Korea Uijeongbu St.Mary's Hospital

🇰🇷

Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, Republic of

Inje University SangGye Paik Hospital

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Korea University Anam Hospital

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Seoul National University Hospital

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Severance Hospital

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Konkuk University Hospital

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Hanyang University Hospital

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Asan Medical Center

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Chung-Ang University Hosptial

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

The Catholic University of Korea Seoul St.Mary's Hospital

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Korea University Guro Hospital

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center

🇰🇷

Daegu, Korea, Republic of

Samsung Medical Center

🇰🇷

Seoul, Korea, Republic of

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