Simple blood test enables specific liver cancer detection: Study

Early detection of liver cancer patients is now possible through a simple blood test, according to a study carried out by a group of scientists, including Bangladeshis.

The test identifies liver cancer through distinctive DNA methylation signatures and has the potential to revolutionise liver cancer detection in high-risk populations, including people with liver diseases, type 2 diabetes, and alcoholics, thereby decreasing morbidity and mortality rates associated with this cancer, it added.

The study on "A high-throughput test enables specific detection of hepatocellular carcinoma" was published in the high-impact peer-reviewed international journal Nature Communications.

A dissemination seminar based on the article titled "Early Detection of Liver Cancer Patient through Simple Blood Test," was held at a city hotel in Dhaka on Sunday.

The research work was conducted by HKG Epitherapeutics Ltd, the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, and a team of eminent Bangladeshi clinicians and scientists.

The assay was evaluated on 554 clinical study participants, including liver cancer patients, non-liver cancer patients, individuals with chronic hepatitis B, and healthy controls. The results showed a liver cancer detection sensitivity of 84.5% at 95% specificity, demonstrating its promising potential for early liver cancer detection.

At the seminar, Professor Sharfuddin Ahmed, vice-chancellor of BSMMU, said, "As we unite to combat liver cancer, this innovative assay, rooted in distinctive DNA methylation signatures, holds the promise to positively impact high-risk populations, reducing the burden of this prevalent cancer."

Professor Moshe Szyf stated, "Our developed high-throughput assay represents an innovative step forward in cancer detection. It contributes significantly to the early detection of HCC, with the potential to transform cancer diagnostics and patient outcomes."

Professor Mamun Al Mahtab, head of the Interventional Hepatology Division at BSMMU, who led this research, said, "While further study is required, this development represents a substantial stride towards a standard early detection tool for individuals at high risk of liver cancer, with the ability to considerably reduce the disease's impact on people at risk of developing liver cancer."

Wasif Ali Khan, a scientist at the icddr,b and principal investigator of the research who led and co-ordinated the project, remarked, "This breakthrough development is a critical milestone in liver cancer detection, with tremendous potential to save lives and improve healthcare in Bangladesh."

"Our unwavering commitment to advancing cancer diagnostics is reflected in this remarkable achievement, aimed at enhancing the well-being of our population. The test will significantly reduce the burden of liver cancer and create a healthier future for all," he added.