Rationale and design of the Hepatocellular carcinoma Early Detection Strategy study: A multi-center longitudinal initiative of the National Cancer Institute ’s early Detection Research Network

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy with a steadily rising incidence and associated morbidity and mortality. Cirrhosis of the liver is presently the leading risk factor for developing HCC. Abdominal imaging, with or without alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing, every 6  months is the current surveillance strategy for patients at risk. The available biomarkers for detecting this cancer at an early stage have inadequate sensitivity and specificity.
Source: Contemporary Clinical Trials - Category: Radiology Authors: Source Type: research