# The UCLA Center in Early Detection of Liver Cancer

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2021 · $655,898

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of death in cirrhotic patients. This neoplasm is associated with
liver cirrhosis in more than 90% of cases. A method of detecting HCC accurately in its early stages would greatly
improve our ability to manage and treat the disease. The UCLA Center aims to develop an effective and
affordable blood-based method for the early detection of liver cancer. Our team consists of translational and
clinical researchers with multi-disciplinary expertise in the areas of early detection, biomarkers, cancer
surveillance, imaging, and biorepositories. We will focus on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the blood. ctDNA
carryies cancer-specific genetic and epigenetic aberrations, which enable a noninvasive `liquid biopsy' for cancer
diagnosis. Our diagnostic test is based on the DNA methylation patterns of cfDNA. Our integrated computational
and experimental technologies can significantly boost the diagnostic power while dramatically reducing the cost.
We have the following aims: (1) We will establish a longitudinal cohort of cirrhotic patients. The cirrhotic patients
will be subject to ultrasound imaging screening and blood sample collection every 6 months. The UCLA liver
clinic sees ~1200 cirrhotic patients per year. (2) We will establish a state-of-the-art biospecimen repository that
includes plasma from individuals in the cohort, tissue from liver tumors after resection, and cirrhotic lesions after
liver transplantation. (3) We will perform Phase 2 clinical assay validation and Phase 3 early detection validation
for the diagnostic test. (4) We will contribute to the collaborative trans-network activities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10246915
- **Project number:** 5U01CA230705-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Samuel Wheeler French
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $655,898
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-17 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10246915

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10246915, The UCLA Center in Early Detection of Liver Cancer (5U01CA230705-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10246915. Licensed CC0.

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