Furthermore, stratified by tumor size, 49% (28/57) of the cases identified by HCCscreenTM were in early stage, i.e. <3cm. These patients are expected to have much better prognosis than advanced stage ones. Additionally, HCCscreenTM achieved sensitivities of 85% for tumor sizes of <3cm, 96% for 3-5cm, and 88% for >5cm. The results are summarized in the following table:
Table 3. HIT Results: Genetron HCCscreenTM Sensitivities by Tumor Size
| | | | | | | | |
| | Tumor Size (N=64) |
HCCcreenTM Test | | <3cm | | 3-5cm | | >5cm | | Total |
Test Positive | | 28 | | 22 | | 7 | | 57 |
Test Negative | | 5 | | 1 | | 1 | | 7 |
Total | | 33 | | 23 | | 8 | | 64 |
| | | | | | | | |
Sensitivity | | 85% | | 96% | | 88% | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Previously, Genetron Health reported preliminary analysis results from the first 297 patients enrolled in the study. Compared with the preliminary results, the confidence interval of sensitivity had improved from 62%-100% to 80%-94%, and the confidence interval of specificity had improved from 89%-96% to 91%-94%. The preliminary study results are summarized in the following table:
Table 4. HIT Results: Genetron HCCscreenTM Preliminary Data (N=297)
| | | | | | | | | | |
HCCscreenTM Test | | HCC | | | Non-HCC | | Total | |
Test—Positive | | | 11 | | | 20 | | | 31 | |
Test—Negative | | | 1 | | | 265 | | | 266 | |
Total | | | 12 | | | 285 | | | 297 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Sensitivity (95% CI) | | | 92% (62%, 100%) | | | | | | | |
Specificity (95% CI) | | | | | | 93% (89%, 96%) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
“We are very pleased with the new HCCscreenTM data from this large, prospective cohort study, which showed overall better sensitivity data, and comparable specificity data versus the standard of care. These additional validation updates gave us more confidence about our assay’s performance, and we will move forward to initiate an NMPA registrational study in the second quarter of this year,” said Mr. Sizhen Wang, co-founder and CEO of Genetron Health. “Overall, HCCscreenTM continues to be a leading liquid-biopsy early detection assay in hepatocellular carcinoma. We are delighted with our clinical and commercial progress to bring this product to more patients, and address an unmet, significant medical need in China.”
About HCCscreenTM and Liver Cancer
In September 2020, Genetron Health received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)’s Breakthrough Device designation for HCCscreenTM, and the product has been commercialized recently as a lab developed test (“LDT”) in China.
Globally, liver cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death and the sixth in terms of incidence1. China represents the largest market, accounting for almost half of the global incidences. New incidence in China was estimated to be around 393,000 per year, with 369,000 deaths2. Market data by Frost and Sullivan estimated that as of 2019, among the 120 million high risk liver cancer population in China, around 74 million were HBV carriers.