10 million people in the United States and Europe are at high risk of developing liver cancer each year, often due to a pre-existing medical condition such as cirrhosis. These patients are enrolled in surveillance programmes for early liver cancer detection, primarily through ultrasound imaging, which is recommended twice yearly due to the fast progression of liver cancer.
However, detection rates remain low because ultrasound lacks sufficient sensitivity, particularly in overweight individuals. Additionally, poor adherence to the programme is common, as it requires a separate appointment from routine blood tests and is hindered by the known limitations of ultrasound.
Replacing ultrasound with a test that could combine a high sensitivity and the convenience of a routine blood test would be ideal.
