Blood Markers for Early Liver Cancer Detection
Serum Glyco-Markers of Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using a Mass Spec Approach
This research looks for new markers in your blood that could help find liver cancer much earlier, especially for people with cirrhosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171701 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a serious condition that is often found too late for effective treatment. Current screening methods don't always catch it early enough, which means many patients miss out on potentially curative options. This project uses advanced technology called mass spectrometry to find unique changes in proteins within your blood. These subtle changes, called glyco-markers, could act as highly specific signals for early-stage liver cancer, even before it becomes more advanced.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant for patients at high risk for liver cancer, particularly those with underlying conditions like cirrhosis.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have risk factors for liver cancer or who are already undergoing treatment for advanced liver cancer may not directly benefit from this early detection method.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a more accurate and earlier way to detect liver cancer, allowing patients to receive life-saving treatments sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary data and published work from this team suggest that this approach of analyzing glycoproteomic profiles and glycan structures holds promise as early detection biomarkers.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lubman, David M. — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Lubman, David M.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.