A Cell-Free tsRNA-Based Liquid Biopsy Signature for Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
City of Hope Medical Center
Summary
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, and early detection is critical for improving patient outcomes. Despite this, reliable non-invasive biomarkers for early-stage HCC are limited. This study seeks to develop a cell-free tsRNA (cf-tsRNA)-based liquid biopsy assay for accurate detection of early-stage HCC.
Description
Liver cancer is a major global health challenge, ranking as the 5th leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. and 3rd worldwide, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounting for \~75% of cases. Incidence has more than tripled since 1980, and death rates have risen by \~2% annually, highlighting the need for improved detection and treatment. Prognosis remains poor: over 50% of HCC cases are diagnosed at stage IV, with a 1-year survival below 30%, whereas early-stage HCC (stages I-II) can achieve up to 74% 5-year survival with curative interventions. Major risk factors include viral h…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * A histologically confirmed diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. * Received standard diagnostic and staging procedures as per local guidelines * Availability of at least one blood-derived sample, drawn before receiving any curative-intent treatment Exclusion Criteria: • Lack of or inability to provide informed consent
Interventions
- Diagnostic TestSmall RNA sequence
Comprehensive small RNA sequencing of serum or plasma-derived cf-tsRNAs to identify candidate biomarkers distinguishing HCC from NDC.
- Diagnostic TestRt-qPCR
Construction of integrated cf- tsmiRNAs diagnostic classifier using machine learning
- Diagnostic TestRt-qPCR
PCR-based validation of the tsRNA panel
Location
- City of Hope Medical CenterDuarte, California