ID LIVER / Our projects / REVISE HCC

Revise HCCImplementation of Elecsys® GAAD clinical algorithm for the early detection of HCC in routine practice

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cause of cancer affecting the liver and the second cause for cancer-related death worldwide. The main risk for developing HCC is pre-existing liver disease and irreversible scarring of the liver, known as cirrhosis.

Around two patients from 100 with cirrhosis will develop HCC every year. In early, curable stages, HCC can have no symptoms and so its recommended that everyone with known cirrhosis receives a liver health check twice a year. The chance of survival is high if HCC is detected at early stages.

Despite the recommendations for a regular liver health check, over half of people in the UK are detected far too late. HCC surveillance urgently needs innovation to improve early detection, better equity for access to surveillance and for curative treatment to become the norm rather than the exception.

The REVISE HCC project, funded by NHS England, was established to explore the use of an innovative test for liver cancer, which will help patients access earlier care and potentially save lives.

What is the Elecsys® GAAD test?

The University of Manchester and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) are implementing a new test across MFT hospitals. The project is supported by Roche Diagnostics who developed the test, called Elecsys® GAAD.

The technology is a fully regulated, accurate test that combines blood tests with gender and age to indicate the presence of HCC. It is being used alongside routine HCC surveillance tests to see how it can benefit patients.

Improving patient outcomes

Elecsys® GAAD has a lower false positive rate than standard care. This means fewer patients are referred for unnecessary confirmatory MRI or CT testing, reducing patient anxiety and inconvenience. The test also helps the NHS to improve the use of imaging resources. The test is better at detecting early-stage HCC than routine care. This means that patients diagnosed with early-stage disease have significantly better 5-year survival rates than those diagnosed with late-stage disease.

Our approach

MFT is the largest NHS Trust in the UK and uniquely placed to test this innovation. Through a multidisciplinary approach, we are:

  • Evaluating the effectiveness of Elecsys® GAAD in HCC surveillance;
  • Developing optimal frameworks for national rollout;
  • Generating recommendations for patient engagement and adoption strategies.

Impact

Our goal is to improve equity of access to surveillance and make curative treatment the norm rather than the exception.

The introduction of Elecsys® GAAD marks a significant milestone in the fight against HCC. By enhancing early detection and surveillance practices, we envision a future where HCC is detected and treated at its most manageable stages, ultimately saving lives, and reducing the disease burden.

 

Partners

The University of Manchester