Detecting hepatocellular carcinoma with the Delta-HLD blood test
Official title: Proof-of-Concept Case-Control Study for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Identification Using Delta-HLD Technology (HIDE)
Run by Epiliquid Holding, Inc · NCT07148310 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether the Delta-HLD liquid biopsy can detect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using blood and matched liver tissue from people with HCC and from people with cirrhosis without cancer.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Epiliquid Holding, Inc Industry-sponsored |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Mendoza) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 18, 2023 |
| Main results expected | August 12, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 2026 |
| Registry record updated | September 9, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07148310 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal participants are adults with histologically confirmed HCC or adults with clinically confirmed liver cirrhosis without HCC who can provide informed consent and paired plasma and liver tissue samples.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with other active cancers, prior liver transplantation, known hereditary cancer syndromes, or recent chemotherapy or antiviral treatment (within three months) are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this study's findings.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
HIDE is a proof-of-concept case-control observational study that tests a set of tumor-specific DNA methylation markers using Epiliquid's Delta-HLD platform. The platform combines enzymatic pre-treatment and multiplexed PCR with a bioinformatics pipeline to identify and rank methylation biomarkers in cfDNA. The study will enroll patients with histologically confirmed HCC (cases) and patients with liver cirrhosis but no evidence of cancer (controls) and will analyze paired plasma and liver tissue samples. Outcomes include diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and concordance between plasma and tissue methylation signals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a less invasive blood-based test to help detect HCC earlier and more accurately than current methods.
How similar studies have gone: Other research using cfDNA methylation markers for HCC detection has shown promising preliminary results but remains largely investigational and not yet standard of care.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed HCC (cases) or clinically confirmed liver cirrhosis without HCC (controls) * Willing and able to provide informed consent * Available paired plasma and liver tissue sample Exclusion Criteria: * Other active cancers * Prior liver transplantation * Known hereditary cancer syndromes * Recent chemotherapy or antiviral treatment (\<3 months)
Where it's running
-
Epiliquid
Mendoza, Argentina Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Dr. Victoria Bocanegra, MD, PhD.
- Email: victoria.bocanegra@epiliquid.com
- Phone: +5492616603254
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Anatomic vs nonanatomic liver resection after conversion therapy for liver cancer
This study tests whether removing more precisely targeted liver tissue (anatomic resection) works better than removing tissue more broadly (nonanatomic) for patients whose unresectable liver cancer became eligible for surgery after PD-1/PD-L1–based therapy.
-
Impact of Anesthesia on Inflammation and NETosis During HCC Ablation
This study tests whether a propofol–fentanyl anesthesia plan with lidocaine during radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma affects inflammation and NETosis in patients with small tumors.
-
Pre-emptive topical indomethacin to prevent sorafenib-related hand-foot syndrome in advanced liver cancer
This trial will test whether applying 1% indomethacin gel to both hands twice daily can reduce hand-foot syndrome in adults with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma starting sorafenib.
-
Becotatug vedotin (MRG003) for previously treated advanced liver cancer with EGFR testing
This study will test whether Becotatug vedotin (MRG003) helps people with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma whose cancer progressed after PD‑1/L1 therapy.
-
TACE or Ablation With Sintilimab and Ipilimumab Before Surgery for Liver Cancer
This study tests whether combining local tumor treatments with immunotherapy before surgery helps people with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma at higher risk of recurrence.
-
Personalized adaptive second-line treatments for advanced liver cancer
This trial tries different personalized second-line treatments to find which work best for people with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma after first-line immunotherapy-based regimens stop working.
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.