Diagnosing liver cancer before it is too late
Biomarkers to advance healthcare. We discover and validate blood-based protein signatures that detect hepatocellular carcinoma at the stage where treatment still cures.
Liver cancer is usually found when it can no longer be cured
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide, and one of the few whose incidence is still rising. Patients at risk -those with cirrhosis or chronic viral hepatitis- are known in advance, yet most are only diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Current surveillance relies mostly on ultrasound alone, sometimes being combined with AFP. This approach misses a large share of early tumours and performs worst in the patients hardest to image. Detection at a curable stage is the single largest influence on survival, and it is a measurement problem.
Levels
Diagnostics performed three retrospective, large-scale proteomic studies in
both MASLD and hepatitis driven HCC patients. Utilizing actual high-risk surveillance
patients as controls, we identified novel biomarkers which can accurately detect
HCC in its earliest stages, allowing for curative treatments.
Currently,
we are working towards translating those results into cost-efficient, easy-to-operate
assays for implementation into the clinic and simplifying the annual screening
of the surveillance population.
Young and ambitious, with backgrounds in chemistry, biology and business
We'd love to hear from you!
We are always keen to meet new people and see how we can help each other.