Seravue Validation Study for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Diagnosis

Launched by IMCARE BIOTECH · May 20, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Seravue Validation Study is looking to improve how we diagnose liver cancer, specifically a type called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Currently, doctors mainly use ultrasound and a blood test called AFP to check for HCC, but these methods have limitations. Ultrasound can miss early signs of cancer, and AFP isn’t always accurate. This trial will test a new blood test, called Seravue, which might be better at detecting HCC in its early stages. Researchers want to see how well this new test works on its own and alongside other tests in different groups of patients.

To participate in this study, individuals must be between 21 and 84 years old and have a condition like liver cirrhosis or chronic Hepatitis B. Participants will need to give blood samples and undergo regular ultrasound screenings as part of their care. The study is not yet recruiting, but if you meet the criteria and are interested, you could help improve early detection of liver cancer for many people.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • Patients who provide written informed consent and meet eligibility criteria will undergo baseline assessments and be entered into the study.
• Inclusion Criteria:
• A patient must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for this study:
• • 1. The patient is willing and able to provide signed informed consent.
• • 2. The patient is aged ≥21to ≤84 years.
• • 3. The patient is willing to undergo phlebotomy and provide blood samples for future biomarker analysis.
• • 4. The patient is willing and able to undergo regularly scheduled onsite liver cancer surveillance by ultrasound and AFP and any resulting axial imaging such as computed tomography (CT, with or without contrast), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasound per the standard of care guidelines and study protocol schedule.
• • 5. The patient has been diagnosed with hepatic cirrhosis of any etiology (both viral and non-viral), or Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). This includes HBV patients with pre-existing cirrhosis prior to antiviral therapy or other treatments leading to fibrosis regression who continue to be at risk.
• a. Cirrhosis may be diagnosed by any one of the following three methods: i. Biopsy and histological examination ii. Fibroscan (VCTE ≥ 12.5kPa) for all etiologies except HBV), Magnetic resonance elastography (≥ 4 kPa) iii. A combination of imaging (MRI, CT, or ultrasound) demonstrating a cirrhotic appearing liver AND at least one of the following:
• • 1. Thrombocytopenia 2. Clinical symptoms (including but not limited to ascites, portal hypertension, hypersplenism, esophageal varices, and encephalopathy).
• • 6) The patient has been diagnosed with HBV without cirrhosis.
• • 1. HBV will be defined by either a positive blood test for HBsAg, quantitative HBsAg, HBeAg OR detectable HBV DNA prior to initiating antiviral therapy.
• 2. Patients are:
• • i. Asian males ≥ 40 years old OR ii. Asian females ≥ 50 years old OR iii. Patients of any ethnicity with a page B score ≥ 10
• • Exclusion Criteria
• A patient who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from this study:
• • 1. Any health condition or other reason which, in the opinion of the investigator, would prelude study participation.
• • 2. Current Child Pugh C cirrhosis
• • 3. The patient has previously been diagnosed with a primary liver cancer or any cancer that has metastasized.
• • 4. The patient has participated in an interventional clinical study within 30 days prior to screening in which an experimental treatment was administered.
• • 5. The patient is unable or unwilling to submit to phlebotomy for testing or undergo ultrasound or other diagnostic imaging such as contrast-enhanced CT or MRI as recommended by AASLD standard of care guidelines.
• • 6. The patient would not routinely be recommended for HCC surveillance.
• • 7. The female patient is pregnant or plans to become pregnant during the study.
• • 8. History of solid nodule on baseline ultrasound (i.e., lesion 1cm or greater) within 9 months prior to consent without subsequent diagnostic multi-phase CT/MRI demonstrating benign nature
• • 9. AFP \>20 ng/mL within 6 months prior to consent, in the absence of a contrast-enhanced multi-phase CT or MRI (before or after) in the past year demonstrating lack of suspicious liver lesions.
• • a. If the AFP is \>20 ng/mL during the study, the patient should undergo a contrast-enhanced multi-phase CT or MRI. if the patient has consistent elevations that are not increasing, repeat diagnostic testing will be left to the discretion of the investigator or the faculty.
• • 10. History of LR-4, LR-5, or LR-M on multi-phase CT or contrast-enhanced MRI prior to consent
• • 11. Patient's provider is planning to use only MRI- or CT- based surveillance moving forward
• • 12. History of Fontan associated liver disease or cardiac cirrhosis
• • 13. Actively listed for liver transplantation