Validating blood and imaging tests to find liver cancer earlier
Clinical Validation Center for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
['FUNDING_U01'] · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-11162471
Testing new blood and imaging tools to find liver cancer earlier in people with liver scarring (cirrhosis) and other chronic liver disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_U01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DALLAS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11162471 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you have cirrhosis or chronic liver disease, this center will collect blood samples and imaging to build a modern biobank for better screening tests. They will compare new blood biomarkers and advanced imaging against current ultrasound and AFP to see which detect cancer earlier. The program runs phase I–III validation studies using stored samples and images from patients including those with cured viral hepatitis and non-viral liver disease. If you join, you may be asked to give blood and allow your scans and clinical data to be used to test these new markers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cirrhosis or other chronic liver disease, including those with cured hepatitis or non-viral causes, who are undergoing routine HCC screening are the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People without liver disease or those already diagnosed with liver cancer are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help catch liver cancer earlier and make screening more accurate so fewer cancers are missed and fewer people undergo unnecessary tests.
How similar studies have performed: Some biomarker approaches (for example AFP-L3, DCP, and GALAD) have shown promise but require broader validation in contemporary, diverse patient groups.
Where this research is happening
DALLAS, UNITED STATES
- UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER — DALLAS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SINGAL, AMIT — UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: SINGAL, AMIT
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.
Conditions: Cancer Cause, Cancer Etiology, Cancers