HCCBloodTest for Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

Patients with clinically-diagnosed cirrhosis without HCC (Group 1) and patients with early-stage HCC (Group 2) will be invited to participate in this study consisting of one visit for all subjects. At Visit 1, Day 0, after subjects have provided informed consent and HIPAA consent, demographics (age, gender, ethnicity), etiology of liver disease and medical history as well as a list of current medications will be obtained; inclusion and exclusion criteria will be reviewed; and subjects will be registered into the study and will undergo a venipuncture to obtain four (4) lavender top K2 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) 10 millilitre (mL) tubes of blood.

The HCCBloodTest will be performed on the blood samples collected from study subjects by the Sponsor at its laboratory in Berlin, Germany, to determine the performance characteristics of the HCCBloodTest in the study population.

The HCCBloodTest is an in-vitro polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the qualitative detection of Septin 9 gene methylation (SEPT9) in DNA isolated from 3.5 mL of patient plasma. The SEPT9 gene is a key regulator of cell division and tumor suppressor and the hypermethylation of the assessed marker site is associated with liver carcinogenesis.

Results from the HCCBloodTest will be not be provided to the investigators or study subjects and, therefore, will be not be used in clinical decision-making or impact clinical care of the study participants in any manner.

Inclusion criteria

• Men or women age 18 years or older;
• Able to read, understand and sign informed consent to participate in study;
• Willing and able to provide written informed consent;
• Willing and able to meet all study requirements and undergo venipuncture to provide blood samples;
• Child-Pugh Score of A or B.

Group 1:

• Diagnosis of cirrhosis and no HCC confirmed by abdominal contrast-enhanced MRI or CT study performed < 90 days prior to the date of consent or an MRI performed ≤ 45 days after Visit 1. If lesions are present, a LI-RADS score of LR-1 or LR-2.

Group 2:

• Diagnosis of HCC confirmed by abdominal contrast-enhanced MRI or CT study performed < 90 days prior to the date of consent or an MRI performed ≤ 45 days after Visit 1 with LI-RADS score of LR-5 and/or biopsy with histopathology.

Exclusion criteria

Both Groups:

• Child-Pugh Score of C;
• Subject has undergone a colonoscopy, endoscopy or other invasive diagnostic procedure (other than venipuncture) during the 10 days prior to providing a blood sample for this study;
• Pregnancy;
• Breastfeeding;
• Currently undergoing dialysis;
• Currently receiving investigational treatments of any type;
• History of receiving any drug therapy, surgery or liver transplant for the treatment of HCC;
• Diagnosis of any non-HCC cancer (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) within past 5 years and/or currently undergoing treatment for any cancer;
• Any clinical condition, diagnosis, or social circumstance that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would be mean participation in the study would be contraindicated.