Helio Health and commercial partner Fulgent Genetics this week announced the launch of the HelioLiver liver cancer blood test.
HelioLiver is a multi-analyte blood test that uses cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation patterns and serum protein markers to detect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is the most common form of liver cancer. The test is able to detect HCC at its earliest stages when lesions are still small to enable more curative treatment options.
Recent studies of the test showed that HelioLiver had “superior sensitivity” over currently available blood tests, according to a news release. It had a specificity of 91% and demonstrated 76% sensitivity in detecting early-stage HCC, outperforming other detection tools like AFP (57%), GALAD (65%) and ultrasound (47%).
The test is intended for patients at high risk of developing liver cancer. It has “the potential to redefine the future of cancer testing and foster better patient outcomes,” said Helio Health U.S. CEO Justin Chen Li in a news release.
HelioLiver also simplified routine checkups by providing blood draws that can give a quick and accurate way to receive regular surveillance for people who are at risk of developing liver cancer.
