Comparing different ways to screen for liver cancer in people with hepatitis B in Zhongshan City

Head-to-Head Comparison of Hepatocellular Cancer (HCC) Screening Strategies: A Prospective Population-Based Cohort Study in Zhongshan City

Observational Zhongshan People's Hospital, Guangdong, China · NCT07010198

This project tests different screening methods to see which finds liver cancer earliest in adults 35 and older who are positive for hepatitis B in Zhongshan City.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment4500 (estimated)
Ages35 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorZhongshan People's Hospital, Guangdong, China Academic / other
Locations1 site (Zhongshan, Guangdong)
Trial IDNCT07010198 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a prospective, single-center, population-based head-to-head comparison of multiple hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening strategies in Zhongshan City. The study will recruit roughly 4,500 HBsAg-positive adults through an initial HBV screening phase and then follow them with uniform HCC surveillance using AFP plus liver ultrasound every six months. Different risk stratification models (conventional AFP+ultrasound general strategy, REACH-B, AGED, aMAP, and aMAP 3.0) will be applied concurrently to each participant to compare detection rates and risk classification. Clinical and laboratory measures such as quantitative HBeAg and other indicators required for the risk scores will be collected and monitored during follow-up.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 35 or older who live in Zhongshan, test positive for HBsAg, can provide informed consent, and do not have a prior history of liver cancer or liver transplantation.

Not a fit: People who are HBsAg-negative, younger than 35, pregnant, have prior liver cancer or transplant, have severe comorbidities, or cannot consent are unlikely to receive benefit from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify the most effective screening approach to detect liver cancer earlier in people with chronic hepatitis B, improving chances for curative treatment.

How similar studies have performed: Retrospective validation in Xiaolan Town showed promising results for the five scoring methods, but a prospective head-to-head comparison in this population is novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Voluntarily sign the informed consent form.
* Household registration in Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province.
* Aged 35 and above.
* Positive screening result for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Previous history of liver cancer or liver transplantation.
* Pregnant women.
* Severe comorbidities (e.g., end-stage cardiopulmonary diseases, advanced malignancies).
* Individuals lacking legal capacity or unable to provide informed consent.

Where this trial is running

Zhongshan, Guangdong

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Hepatocellular CancerScreeningaMAP
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.