Understanding Barriers to Early Liver Cancer Detection in Los Angeles

This study is looking into why some people with liver cancer (Hepatocellular Carcinoma or HCC) are diagnosed at a later stage, especially those with lower incomes. It's an observational study, meaning you won't receive a new treatment, but researchers will gather information from you. They want to understand the social and health-related reasons that might prevent people from getting an early diagnosis. To join, you must be an adult (18+) recently diagnosed with HCC, live in Los Angeles County, and have Medicaid or no insurance. You should also be able to speak English, Spanish, or Chinese. The study aims to identify barriers to early detection over a period of up to four years.

Study design
This is an observational study planning to enroll 730 adults with a new diagnosis of liver cancer.
What's involved
You would complete surveys, have your medical records reviewed, and might participate in an interview.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Researchers will look at information related to social determinants of health and barriers to early detection for up to four years.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07312162

Multilevel Determinants of Socioeconomic Disparities in Geographic Late-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma Hotspots

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 18+Observational
University of Southern California
~730 participants
Updated 2026-01-30 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Non-Interventional Study

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Social determinants of health
Measured over Up to 4 years
+1 more outcome measured
Hepatocellular Carcinoma

NCT07312162

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Los Angeles, Californiastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

  • Kali Zhou · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Southern California

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Want this trial checked against your situation?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

\* Adults (18+)
New diagnosis of HCC
Able to provide informed consent
Must complete survey
Residential address in a late stage hotspot
Medicaid insurance or uninsured
English, Spanish and Chinese speakers

Exclusion

\* Residence outside of Los Angeles County
Non-HCC liver tumors
Incarcerated patients
Pregnant women
  • Social determinants of healthUp to 4 years

    Patient social determinants of health-related needs will be measured through a health questionnaire created for the study. The patient can respond yes or no to having a lack of transportation to and from appointments. The patient is given a scale of never true, sometimes true and often true for questions regarding food insecurity. The patient can indicate that they do or do not have housing today (or choose not to answer), and they can indicate how many times they moved in the last year as 0, 1, or 2+. For the remaining questions regarding housing, paying for utilities, paying for medications, unemployment, education and child or family care, the patient can respond yes, no or choose not to answer. Responses of yes indicate the patient has a need, and no indicates that they do not have a need.

  • Barriers to completion of the early detection pathway for liver cancerUp to 4 years

    For assessment we will conduct semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, including low-income patients with liver cancer, providers in an interconnected safety net system, and community leaders of hotspot neighborhoods.