We are pleased to announce that Louise Henderson and Andrew Moon, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at UNC, have been awarded a new NIH/NCI-funded grant (R21CA313041). Lauren Burke serves as a co-investigator on this project.
Project Title: Early Detection of Liver Cancer Among Patients with Cirrhosis and MASLD
Project Period: May 15, 2026 – April 30, 2028
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, is projected to become the third leading cause of cancer-related death by 2035. While routine surveillance—typically abdominal ultrasound every six months for high-risk patients—has been shown to improve early detection and survival, national data reveal that only about 25% of patients with cirrhosis receive appropriate screening.
This project addresses critical gaps in HCC surveillance, particularly in the context of the rising prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which is expanding the population at risk. As liver disease patterns evolve, there is an urgent need to better understand how to identify at-risk individuals and optimize surveillance strategies.
The study aims to:
- Develop and implement the infrastructure for a population-based HCC surveillance registry
- Evaluate methods to accurately identify patients with MASLD using ICD codes, laboratory data, and radiology reports
This innovative work responds to a shifting clinical landscape and will lay the groundwork for future efforts to improve risk stratification, surveillance practices, and ultimately patient outcomes. By establishing a scalable registry and identifying gaps in care, the research team aims to inform targeted interventions that enhance early detection and treatment of liver cancer.