Editor's Note: Liver cancer, often referred to as the “silent killer,” is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage. Current screening methods such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing and ultrasound lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more efficient, accurate, and cost-effective screening tools. At the 2024 ESMO conference, former President of the Korean Surgical Society and Professor at Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Wang Hee-Jung, presented a novel method based on digital PCR detection of circulating tumor DNA methylation markers, demonstrating promising sensitivity and specificity results. Oncology Frontier invited Dr. Tian Yang from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University to provide insights on this study.

Dr. Tian Yang：This study marks a significant breakthrough in the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), addressing the limitations of current liver cancer screening methods. The research team developed the HEPA eDX system, a novel detection technique based on digital PCR technology, which identifies liver cancer-specific circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) methylation markers for early diagnosis. Through the analysis of over 10,000 tissue samples, the study precisely identified three CpG sites highly associated with HCC, which were rigorously validated across multiple layers.

The HEPA eDX system demonstrated exceptional performance across cell lines, tissue samples, and clinical plasma samples, achieving a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 92% in clinical validation. Notably, when combined with traditional AFP testing, its diagnostic efficacy was significantly enhanced, with both sensitivity and specificity reaching 92%, effectively compensating for AFP’s diagnostic shortcomings. This highly accurate and non-invasive method holds the potential to substantially increase the early detection rate of liver cancer and lays the foundation for personalized precision medicine. Moreover, the HEPA eDX system showed promise for postoperative monitoring and early relapse warning in liver cancer patients.

This research represents a significant leap forward in the field of liver cancer diagnosis and is poised to transform liver cancer management from passive monitoring to proactive screening. By improving the accuracy of diagnosis, it has the potential to enhance the survival rates and quality of life for liver cancer patients, possibly reshaping the existing diagnostic strategy.

TianYang , M.D., Ph.D.

• Position: Deputy Director of the Second Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Vice Dean of the Clinical Research Institute at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University
• Academic Background: Studied under Academicians Wu Mengchao and Liu Yunyi; Visiting scholar at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York
• Awards: Recipient of the National Distinguished Youth Science Fund (First Clinical Distinguished Youth Scholar); Shanghai Outstanding Academic Leader; Shanghai Shuguang Scholar; Pujiang Talent Program of Shanghai; Young Scientific Talent of the Armed Forces; and the Silver Snake Award
• Publications: First or corresponding author of over 151 SCI-indexed research articles in prestigious journals such as JAMA Surgery, Annals of Surgery, Gut, Journal of Hepatology, and Advanced Materials. His publications include 32 articles with impact factors above 10, 16 ESI highly cited/cover/editorial/commentary articles, over 6,400 citations, and an H-index of 42.
• Academic Leadership: Executive Editor of iLIVER, Associate Editor of View Medicine, and editorial board member of 23 domestic and international journals.

Prof. Yang’s extensive experience and research contributions make him a leading figure in liver cancer diagnosis and personalized treatment. His review of the HEPA eDX system highlights its potential to advance liver cancer screening and management significantly.