Simple Blood Test Detects Early Liver Cancer in At-Risk Patients
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By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 08 Jul 2022 |
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Image: HelioLiver is a simple blood test for liver cancer (Photo courtesy of Helio Genomics)
Half of all liver cancers are diagnosed at an early stage when the disease is still localized. Almost 90% of liver cancer is made up of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients at risk for HCC include those with: pre-existing cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C, excessive alcohol use, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Less-prevalent conditions, such as hereditary hemochromatosis, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and Wilson's disease, have also been associated with HCC development. Early detection of liver cancer significantly improves outcomes for patients, allowing for a higher survival rate, and more time to treat the disease. Now, a revolutionary new blood test can help detect HCC earlier, allowing at-risk patients access to more curative treatment options and improving outcomes overall.
The HelioLiver Test from Helio Genomics (Irvine, CA, USA) allows physicians to efficiently screen more patients with one simple, affordable blood test that integrates seamlessly with in-office patient care. By combining the results of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation testing with data from protein tumor markers and other clinical information, the multi-analyte blood test delivers superior performance characteristics when compared to traditional blood tests for HCC. The HelioLiver Test is three times more sensitive than the current standard of care for early stage detection for small lesions.
HelioLiver requires only a simple blood draw that can be conducted during the same physician visit, instead of needing to schedule an additional appointment. The test is intended for surveillance of HCC in men and women age 21 and over who are designated to be at high-risk for HCC due to a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. The HelioLiver test is not intended as a replacement for diagnostic biopsies or diagnostic imaging by contrast enhanced MRI or CT.
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