AI prediction of liver cancer returning after surgery
Official title: Prospective Validation of Multimodal Deep Learning Models for Predicting Recurrence Patterns in Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Resection: A Natural Treatment Cohort Stratification Study
Run by Tongji Hospital · NCT07062380 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will test whether an AI program can identify people with early-stage liver cancer who are likely to have the cancer come back within two years after surgery.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 353 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Tongji Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Wuhan, Hubei) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 10, 2025 |
| Main results expected | June 10, 2026 |
| Study ends | June 10, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | September 3, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07062380 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults 18–75 years old with BCLC stage 0–A HCC scheduled for curative liver resection who have a good performance status (ECOG 0–1), Child-Pugh score ≤7, and a recent high-quality dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with non-HCC pathology after surgery, advanced-stage disease, severe organ dysfunction, inability to obtain suitable MRI, prior organ transplant, or who are pregnant/lactating are unlikely to benefit from this validation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational project will use a pretrained deep learning model to predict aggressive recurrence patterns after curative resection for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. Eligible patients will have a dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI within one month before surgery and will receive standard surgical care. Clinical, imaging, and follow-up data will be collected and the AI model’s predictions compared with actual recurrence observed during two years of imaging surveillance. The goal is to validate the model’s accuracy in a real-world surgical cohort and describe patterns of post-resection recurrence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the AI tool could help identify patients at higher risk of early recurrence so clinicians can tailor follow-up and adjuvant treatment more precisely.
How similar studies have gone: Retrospective studies using AI to predict HCC recurrence have shown promising results, but prospective or real-world validation studies remain limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18-75 years, regardless of gender. * BCLC stage 0-A, scheduled for curative liver resection. * Preoperative clinical diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). * Availability of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI within 1 month before surgery, with acceptable image quality. * Child-Pugh liver function score ≤7. * ECOG Performance Status (PS) 0-1. * No severe organic diseases of the heart, lungs, brain, or other vital organs. Exclusion Criteria: * Concurrent other malignancies (except cured non-melanoma skin cancer or cervical carcinoma in situ). * Postoperative pathology confirms non-HCC diagnosis. * Pregnant or lactating women. * History of organ transplantation. * Inability to comply with the study protocol or follow-up schedule.
Where it's running
-
Tongji Hospital
Wuhan, Hubei, China Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Yang Wu, M.D.
- Email: 255001907@qq.com
- Phone: +8613636076910
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Pain management plan implementation for major open abdominal surgeries
This trial tests an opioid-epidural pain management approach to see if it improves post-surgical pain control for adults undergoing open abdominal procedures like colectomy, hepatectomy, and nephrectomy.
-
Remimazolam vs. Propofol for Maintaining Anesthesia During Major Liver Resection
This study tests whether remimazolam keeps blood pressure steadier than propofol during major liver surgery in adults.
-
SHY-ONC6: a new anti-cancer drug tested in adults with advanced solid tumors
This early-phase study tests SHY-ONC6 to see if it is safe and can help people with advanced solid tumors after standard therapies have failed.
-
Preoperative Geriatric Assessment to Guide Hepatectomy in Older Adults
Aging patients planning liver surgery will be tested to see if a comprehensive geriatric assessment helps tailor perioperative care.
-
Methylprednisolone Before Major Liver Surgery
This trial tests whether giving methylprednisolone before major liver surgery helps reduce postoperative complications like infections and long hospital stays for adults having hepatectomy.
-
QL1706 with bevacizumab plus RALOX-HAIC for liver cancer with VP3/4 portal vein tumor thrombus
This trial will test whether giving QL1706 together with bevacizumab and RALOX hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy helps people with hepatocellular carcinoma and VP3/4 portal vein tumor thrombosis live longer or shrink tumors.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.