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Researchers from the UT Southwestern Simmons Cancer Center have conducted a study saying that ultrasound imaging when used in combination with blood testing for alpha fetoprotein could help to improve the detection of early stage liver cancer by 40%, as published in the journal Gastroenterology.
Liver cancer screening guidelines vary, some calling for imaging alone and other calling for both blood tests along with imaging. Screening of patients with chronic liver disease is typically conducted using an abdominal ultrasound as it is easily available and noninvasive, but it can miss many cancers if they are small.
Adding the blood biomarker alpha fetoprotein increased early stage hepatocellular carcinoma from 45% efficiency when using ultrasound alone to 63% efficiency when used in combination says Dr. Amit Singal. Alpha fetoprotein is a plasma protein secreted in large quantity by liver cells in the fetus, levels are typically low in adults, liver cancer can elevate these levels. Adding that the results support a change in clinical practice by adding the combination of ultrasound and biomarkers for liver cancer screening, highlighting the importance of continued development and validation of blood based biomarkers for early cancer detection.
Source: https://www.worldhealth.net/news/alpha-fetoprotein-testing-may-detect-liver-cancer-sooner/