Actively Recruiting
A Simple Breath Test to Detect Liver Cancer and Monitor Liver Conditions
Led by Imperial College London · Updated on 2025-03-07
750
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
106 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Liver cancer is often diagnosed too late for effective treatment. The VOCAL2 study is developing a simple, non-invasive breath test to help detect liver cancer earlier and monitor liver conditions like cirrhosis. The test analyzes tiny chemicals in exhaled breath called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to identify signs of liver disease. Who can take part? Adults aged 18 or older who: Have liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma), or Have liver cirrhosis or primary sclerosing cholangitis, or Have tummy symptoms but a normal liver scan. What's involved? Participants will: Give a breath sample after fasting for 6 hours. Answer a few health questions. Allow access to relevant medical records. The appointment lasts about 1 hour at an NHS hospital. Benefits \& Risks This research could lead to an earlier, easier way to detect liver cancer, but there's no direct health benefit for participants. There are no risks, as breath sampling is completely non-invasive and safe. Where is the study happening? Led by Imperial College London, running in NHS hospitals across the UK. Who is funding the study? The study is funded by Rosetrees and Stoneygate Trust. Contact Information Email: vocal-study@imperial.ac.uk Phone: +44 (0)20 7594 3396
CONDITIONS
Official Title
A Simple Breath Test to Detect Liver Cancer and Monitor Liver Conditions
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Male and female adults aged 18 years or older
- Participants diagnosed with histologically or radiologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma
- Participants with liver cirrhosis confirmed by imaging or biopsy
- Participants with primary sclerosing cholangitis confirmed by MRCP, ERCP, or biopsy
- Participants with non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms but a normal liver scan
You will not qualify if you...
- Active infection or use of immunosuppressive medications within the last eight weeks
- History of another cancer within the past five years
- Previous liver surgery
- Prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery for liver cancer
- Medical conditions that prevent breath sample collection
- Pregnancy
- Unable to provide informed written consent
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Imperial College London
London, United Kingdom
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
G
Georgios Karagiannidis, MBBS(Hon)
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
3
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