Journal Updates

Liquid biopsy detects early stage liver cancer in asymptomatic hepatitis B patients

The use of combined detection of cell free DNA (cfDNA) alterations and protein markers is a feasible approach to identify early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients with asymptomatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, according to a study published online March 11, 2019 in PNAS. The assay showed 100% sensitivity, 94% specificity, and 17% positive predictive value.