March 18, 2024 is the 24th "National Liver Health Day" in China, with the theme "Early Prevention and Early Screening — Stay Away from Cirrhosis."
Cirrhosis is mainly caused by massive necrosis and fibrosis of liver cells, making the liver hard and even causing atrophy and functional decline; it is one of the main risk factors for liver cancer.
Epidemiology of Liver Cancer in China
In 2022, the number of new liver cancer cases in China was about 367,700, ranking fourth among all malignant tumors; liver cancer deaths were 316,500, ranking second, only after lung cancer! Most liver cancer patients in China have a background of hepatitis B virus infection/cirrhosis, and about 70% are in the middle-to-late stage at the time of consultation. The 5-year relative survival rate is only 12.1%, and the male-to-female ratio is about 3.5:1.
— National Cancer Center based on the latest data from tumor registration and follow-up monitoring
Clinically, about 85% of liver cancer patients in China have a history of hepatitis B. And it takes only 3 steps from hepatitis to liver cancer: hepatitis – cirrhosis – liver cancer. If liver cancer patients can be diagnosed early and receive effective treatment, the five-year survival rate can reach more than 60%.
The Three Stages of Liver Cancer
Actively Do a Good Job in Liver Cancer Prevention
The "Expert Consensus on Primary Prevention of Liver Cancer in China 2018" provides liver cancer prevention recommendations based on the characteristics of liver cancer occurrence in China:
1. Hepatitis B vaccination is the most economical and effective way to prevent HBV infection.
2. Patients with chronic hepatitis B and C should undergo antiviral treatment as prescribed by their doctors.
3. Stay away from moldy foods and foods contaminated with aflatoxin.
4. Quit smoking, quit drinking, and stay away from obesity and diabetes.
Undergo Regular Early Screening
Screening is the best way to prevent liver cancer. The "Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Liver Cancer" recommend that high-risk populations for liver cancer undergo liver ultrasound combined with serum AFP for early liver cancer screening every six months.
High-risk populations for liver cancer:
Those with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, excessive alcohol consumption, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis caused by other reasons, or a family history of liver cancer, especially men aged >40.
Existing clinical liver cancer screening techniques
As a leader in clinical proteomics and a multi-omics technology service provider, ProteinT provides corresponding solutions to the clinical pain points of liver cancer screening.
Non-invasive Liver Cancer Risk Screening Based on Metabolomics
Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology, qualitative and quantitative detection of 153 blood lipid and metabolic indicators is performed on blood samples from high-risk liver cancer examinees, and a liver cancer risk screening model is established based on the data results and machine learning algorithms. It can efficiently distinguish hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, other cancer types, and healthy populations.
Non-invasive Liver Cancer Risk Screening Based on Proteomics
Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technology, full proteomics detection is performed on blood samples from high-risk liver cancer examinees, a liver cancer risk screening model based on proteomics is established, the examinee's liver cancer risk score is calculated, and the risk of developing liver cancer is efficiently assessed. This product relies on ProteinT's core patented blood low-abundance protein enrichment technology, and the corresponding blood protein and polypeptide extraction or purification reagents have been approved (filing number: Jin Xie Bei 20230397).
Only 2 mL of blood is needed to precisely warn of the examinee's liver cancer risk. Both products feature high sensitivity and high specificity. Through multi-omics solutions, they innovatively address the clinical pain points of liver cancer screening, including high false-negative rates, low sensitivity, radioactivity, and low compliance.
