The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of biomarkers, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3), and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP), for surveillance program patients whose hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development may be potentially missed by ultrasound (US). This study expects to demonstrate that addition of biomarkers will increase the detection rate by at least 10%.
This study is a prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma with ultrasound alone versus ultrasound and standard biomarkers. The study will be conducted initially at UHN (TGH and TWH). One arm will undergo surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma using ultrasound (US) alone and the other will undergo HCC surveillance with US plus biomarkers (BM). The biomarkers to be used will be AFP, AFP-L3 and DCP). Subjects will undergo surveillance at 6 monthly intervals for a minimum of 2 years and up to 4 years. The endpoints will be the comparative effectiveness, defined as sensitivity and specificity of detection of HCC. The comparisons of sensitivity, specificity, and other parameters with respect to tumor characteristics will be made among US alone, biomarkers alone, and combined use of US and biomarkers. The target population is individuals who have liver cirrhosis and no HCC detectable at enrollment into the study. The factors contributing to the cause of the cirrhosis will be recorded but will not play a role into subject eligibility for the study
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
2,500
Toronto General Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto Western Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Biomarker assays exceeding threshold
Biomarker assay levels that exceed threshold will trigger diagnostic imaging for HCC. Ultrasound imaging indicating a suspicious nodule may also trigger diagnostic imaging.
Time frame: Every 6 months until HCC is detected or up to 4 years
Surveillance until HCC development and detection
When the total number of HCC cases as diagnosed by CT/MRI have been observed. Approximately 300 cases in total half (150) the cases from each group
Time frame: Up to 4 years
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