Seegene Medical Foundation’s Mass Spectrometry Research Center announced that it has developed GAFAD, a mass spectrometry-based early detection algorithm for liver cancer, and published the related research results in the international journal “Clinical and Molecular Hepatology (IF 16.9)”.

According to Seegene Medical Foundation on the 18th, this study was conducted using clinical specimens secured through collaboration with Ajou University Hospital. The research focused on addressing diagnostic gaps that have been identified as limitations in existing liver cancer surveillance systems.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and regular surveillance is required for high-risk groups such as patients with chronic hepatitis B or C and liver cirrhosis. However, in actual clinical practice, there have been concerns about constraints to early detection due to difficulties in interpreting ultrasound findings and the presence of patient groups with low levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).

The GAFAD algorithm was developed to overcome these limitations. It is designed to analyze changes that are difficult to detect with existing tests by using AFP-Fuc%, a mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based biomarker.
The research team also conducted comparative analyses with the existing ASAP and GALAD models. An analysis of data from 980 patients showed that GAFAD’s diagnostic performance (AUC) was 0.938, and at a specificity of 90%, its sensitivity was 82%.

In particular, among patient groups with low AFP levels, it demonstrated a relatively higher detection rate compared with existing models. In addition, the GAFAD score showed a certain degree of correlation with tumor size and the presence of vascular invasion.

Based on these results, Seegene Medical Foundation plans to pursue commercialization of SeeLiver, an early liver cancer detection test.

Baek Je-hyun, Director of the Mass Spectrometry Research Center at Seegene Medical Foundation, stated, “SeeLiver was developed to precisely identify patients with early-stage liver cancer and AFP-negative patients,” and emphasized, “This study has gained international recognition for the clinical validity of a mass spectrometry-based liver cancer surveillance strategy.”

The study can be accessed on the official website of “Clinical and Molecular Hepatology”.

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