Pearl
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prospective Cohort for Early Detection of Liver Cancer
IRAS ID
285362
Contact name
Eleanor Barnes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Clinical Trials and Research Governance
Duration of Study in the UK
15 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
Cancer that begins in the liver (hepatocellular cancer, HCC) is one of the fastest rising and fourth commonest cause of death due to cancer world-wide. HCC usually arises in people with liver cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis may develop as a result of a number of underlying conditions, all of which lead to scarring (fibrosis) and eventually to cirrhosis. Advanced liver fibrosis (cirrhosis) is the single most important risk factor for the development of HCC
Due to the increased risk of HCC, patients with liver cirrhosis usually have ultrasound scans and blood tests every 6 months, so that if a cancer develops this may be diagnosed in its early stages. However, these tests fail to detect early liver cancer in 6 out of 10 people. The majority of people are first diagnosed when their cancer is too advanced to be cured. However, with early diagnosis, HCC is potentially curable.
In this study we aim to recruit 3000 people with liver cirrhosis into a Prospective cohort for early detection of Liver cancer – the Pearl cohort. We believe that using a combination of novel tests we may be able to improve the detection of early HCC.
During a four-year follow-up period, we expect around 100 Pearl patients to be diagnosed with HCC. We will collect blood, urine, clinical and imaging data. The samples will be used to identify a range of tests (including genetic, protein and other biomarkers), which along with the clinical data can identify those most at risk of developing HCC, and to identify HCC at the earliest possible time points.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/EM/0151
Date of REC Opinion
2 Aug 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion