The early detection of primary liver cancer

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Novel methodologies for the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma

• IRAS ID

  285521

• Contact name

  Matthew Hoare

• Contact email

  mwh20@cam.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University of Cambridge

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  HVS/2019/2994, University of Cambridge Insurance

• Duration of Study in the UK

  5 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Liver disease is the fastest growing cause of death in the UK at present. The commonest cause of liver disease is now non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), that affects 25% of the population and can lead to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The World Health Organisation estimates that HCC kills around 700,000 people worldwide each year.

  Although very common and associated with increased risk of cancer development, we do not understand why patients with liver disease have this increased risk. In this project we aim to investigate this link, focusing on:
  1) the nature of damage to liver cells, particularly DNA damage
  2) how this damage impacts the function of liver cells
  3) whether this damage increases the risk of cancer development
  4) whether this damage could be detectable in peripheral blood

  We will study patients with liver disease and healthy controls, recruited at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge to look at the nature of liver damage in different stages of liver disease.

  The ultimate aim is to develop tests that can predict which patients with liver disease have a high risk of development of HCC, in order to prevent cancer development or treat patients at earlier stages of disease.

• REC name

  HSC REC A

• REC reference

  20/NI/0109

• Date of REC Opinion

  18 Aug 2020

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion