Clinics · Feb 17, 2026

Validation of the GALAD model for diagnosing HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma in Chinese patients

By Li K, Xia F, Wu X

BACKGROUND: The GALAD model integrates serological biomarkers (AFP, AFP-L3%, DCP) with demographic factors to estimate the presence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). However, its applicability in Chinese populations with HBV-related HCC remains underexplored. This study validated the clinical utility of GALAD in this specific population. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study enrolled 217 HBV-related HCC patients, 210 patients with benign Liver disease without cirrhosis, 247 Cirrhosis patients, and 220 healthy controls. Serum levels of AFP, AFP-L3%, and DCP were measured. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed diagnostic performance, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test evaluated model calibration. Serum levels of AFP, AFP-L3%, and DCP were measured. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed diagnostic performance, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test evaluated model calibration. RESULTS: GALAD demonstrated superior diagnostic performance, with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.942. At an optimal cutoff of 1.89, sensitivity and specificity were 89.91 % and 81.51 %, respectively. The model showed excellent calibration (χ² = 8.934, p > 0.05), confirming its reliability for Chinese HBV-related HCC patients. CONCLUSION: The GALAD model outperforms individual biomarkers in diagnosing HBV-related HCC in the Chinese population, highlighting its potential utility in clinical practice. This cost-effective tool holds particular promise for the tertiary prevention of HBV-related HCC, especially in resource-limited settings.

doi.org/10.1016/j.clinsp.2026.100882Open accessPubMed 41707450Biomarkers