Patent ID: 9629616
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: A61B,G01N

Claim:
1. A method for detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a subject, the method comprising the steps of: (i) administering an isotope-labeled octanoate to the subject; (ii) measuring a level of an isotope-labeled metabolic product of octanoate in exhaled breath of the subject following administration of the isotope-labeled octanoate; (iii) comparing the measured level of isotope-labeled metabolic product of octanoate in the subject to a reference level; and (iv) detecting hepatocellular carcinoma based on the measured level of isotope-labeled metabolic product of octanoate; wherein a significantly decreased level of isotope-labeled metabolic product of octanoate is indicative of active hepatocellular carcinoma; and wherein detecting hepatocellular carcinoma comprises distinguishing between impaired liver function caused by fibrosis or cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.