BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Despite advances in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) management, prognosis remains poor. Advanced-stage diagnosis often excludes curative treatments, and current biomarkers (e.g., alpha-fetoprotein [AFP]) have limited utility in early detection. Liquid biopsy has emerged as a promising cancer detection tool, with circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) showing significant diagnostic potential. This proof-of-concept study aimed to investigate the potential role of tumor fraction (TF) within ccfDNA as a biomarker in HCC patients.

METHODS

A total of sixty patients were recruited, including thirteen with chronic liver disease (CLD), twenty-four with cirrhosis, and twenty-three with HCC. Plasma samples were collected, and ccfDNA was extracted for shallow whole genome sequencing (sWGS) analysis. The TF was calculated by focusing on somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs) within the ccfDNA.

RESULTS

Among patients with CLD and cirrhosis (n = 37), ctDNA was undetectable in all but one cirrhotic patient who exhibited a significant tumor fraction (TF) of 17% and subsequently developed HCC. Conversely, five out of twenty-three HCC patients (21.7%) displayed detectable ctDNA with TF levels ranging from 3.0% to 32.6%. Patients with detectable ctDNA were characterized by more aggressive oncological features, including a higher number of nodules ( = 0.005), advanced-stage disease (60% BCLC C, = 0.010), and poorer response to therapy (80% PD, = 0.001). Moreover, the overall survival (OS) was significantly reduced in patients with detectable ctDNA (median OS: 17 months; CI 95% 4.5-26.5) compared to those without (median OS: 24.0 months; CI 95% 7.0-66.0; log-rank = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the analysis of TF by sWGS is a promising non-invasive tool for the identification of HCC with aggressive clinical behavior, whereas it is not sensitive enough for early HCC detection. This molecular assay can improve prognostic stratification in HCC patients.