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Ben Yedder N, Girot P, Koudougou C, Schnee M, Métairie S, Lim A, Soualah K, Andrault S, Salimon M, Touchefeu Y. Lack of prior screening for advanced liver fibrosis in patients with newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma: Results from a prospective multicentre study. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2025; 49:102607. [PMID: 40315983 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2025.102607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2025] [Revised: 03/29/2025] [Accepted: 04/28/2025] [Indexed: 05/04/2025]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) most commonly occurs in a cirrhotic liver. In France, a screening rate of 20 % to 35 % has been reported in clinical cohorts. In these studies, patients were generally enrolled in centers of the same category (university or general hospitals). The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate the circumstances of HCC diagnosis and the causes of HCC screening failure in a cohort of patients from a regional network. METHODS This prospective multicenter study enrolled patients with newly diagnosed HCC from October 2022 to July 2024. Investigators were from one university hospital, two private clinics, and three general hospitals. RESULTS Two hundred patients were included. Diagnosis was made by screening in 31.0 % of cases. Most patients had comorbidities that could lead to screening for liver fibrosis: current or past history of alcohol consumption (74.6 %), diabetes (51.4 %), hypertension (75.7 %), dyslipidemia (47.4 %). The FIB-4 score was ≥ 2.67 in 74.5 % of patients in the "in screening" group and 63.9 % in the "not in -screening" group. Among the 138 patient in the "not in screening" group, 115 (83.3 %), 34 (24.6), 23 (16.7 %) and 13 (9.4 %) declared they had visited a general practionner, a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, and/or an endocrinologist within the 12 months prior to HCC diagnosis, respectively. CONCLUSION Recognition by general practitioners of patients at risk of chronic liver disease and identification of advanced fibrosis are major areas for optimization of HCC screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nour Ben Yedder
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Institut des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif (IMAD), Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Inserm CIC 1413, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Paul Girot
- Gastroenterology Department, Centre Hospitalier Départemental Vendée, La Roche-Sur-Yon, France
| | - Carelle Koudougou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Clinique Jules Verne, Nantes, France
| | - Matthieu Schnee
- Gastroenterology Department, Centre Hospitalier Départemental Vendée, La Roche-Sur-Yon, France
| | - Sylvie Métairie
- Department of Oncological, Digestive and Endocrine Surgery, University Hospital of Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Annie Lim
- Department of Gastroenterology, Clinique Santé Atlantique, Saint Herblain, France
| | - Kouceila Soualah
- Centre Hospitalier Châteaubriant Nozay Pouancé, Châteaubriant, France
| | - Samuel Andrault
- Gastroenterology Department, Centre Hospitalier, Cholet, France
| | - Maëva Salimon
- Department of Gastroenterology, Clinique Santé Atlantique, Saint Herblain, France
| | - Yann Touchefeu
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, Institut des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif (IMAD), Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Inserm CIC 1413, F-44000 Nantes, France.
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Sanduzzi-Zamparelli M, Cabibbo G. Surveillance in HCC: Making the Most of What We Have Today. Liver Int 2025; 45:e70057. [PMID: 40083260 DOI: 10.1111/liv.70057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2025] [Accepted: 02/25/2025] [Indexed: 03/16/2025]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Sanduzzi-Zamparelli
- Liver Oncology Unit, Liver Unit, ICMDM, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Group, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain
| | - Giuseppe Cabibbo
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties PROMISE, University of Palermo, Piazza delle Cliniche n 2, Palermo, Italy
- Gastroenterology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico "Paolo Giaccone", Palermo, Italy
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Brahmania M, Congly S, Sachar Y, Burak KW, Lethebe B, Szostakiwskyj JH, Lautner D, Medellin A, Bhayana D, Wong J, Nguyen H, Sadler MD, Borman M, Aspinall AI, Coffin CS, Swain M, Shaheen A. Dedicated Automatic Recall Hepatocellular Cancer Surveillance Programme Demonstrates High Retention: A Population-Based Cohort Study. Liver Int 2025; 45:e70020. [PMID: 39927626 PMCID: PMC11809127 DOI: 10.1111/liv.70020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 12/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2025] [Indexed: 02/11/2025]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Patient, clinician, and system-related barriers may affect adherence to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance programmes. The impact of a dedicated automated recall HCC surveillance programme on retention rates in patients eligible for screening is unknown. We aimed to describe and evaluate a large HCC surveillance programme in a publicly funded healthcare system. METHODS Data were collected from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2022, from a retrospective cohort of subjects enrolled in a publicly funded automated recall semi-annual surveillance programme as per the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease HCC guidance in the Calgary Health Zone (~1.6 million), Canada. Patients were excluded if there was incomplete data or did not meet indications for surveillance. Cox regression was used to identify predictors of non-retention to surveillance. RESULTS A total of 7269 patients were included. The median was age 55.5 years (IQR: 45.5-63.8), 60% were male, 46% were of Asian descent, 51% had HBV infection, and 36% had cirrhosis (35% alcohol-related). Median follow-up was 4.9 years (IQR: 1.5-7.2). Overall, 52% (n = 3768) of patients were retained in the surveillance programme, while 8.3% (n = 603) left for potential medical reasons, and 40% (n = 2898) were lost in follow-up. The median time in the programme for those lost in follow-up was 0.81 years (IQR: 0.0-2.8) compared to 6.75 years if retained (IQR: 5.6-8.6; p < 0.001). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, HCV aetiology (HR 1.41; CI 1.23-1.62, p < 0.01), African ethnicity (HR 1.20, CI 1.02-1.42, p = 0.03), and cirrhosis (HR 1.16, CI 1.05-1.28, p < 0.01) increased risk of dropout. On interaction analysis, Hepatitis B amongst cirrhotic patients also increased risk of dropout (HR 1.48, CI 1.05-2.07, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION A dedicated automated recall HCC surveillance programme has a high retention rate in a large multi-ethnic cohort of patients while identifying certain marginalised patient populations, such as those with viral liver disease, cirrhosis, or African ethnicity, as particularly vulnerable to loss to follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayur Brahmania
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of MedicineSchulich School of MedicineLondonOntarioCanada
- O'Brien Institute of Public HealthSchulich School of MedicineLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Stephen Congly
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of MedicineSchulich School of MedicineLondonOntarioCanada
- O'Brien Institute of Public HealthSchulich School of MedicineLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Yashasavi Sachar
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of MedicineSchulich School of MedicineLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Kelly W. Burak
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of MedicineSchulich School of MedicineLondonOntarioCanada
- Department of OncologyCumming School of MedicineCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Brendan Lethebe
- Clinical Research UnitCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | | | - David Lautner
- Department of RadiologyCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Alexandra Medellin
- Department of RadiologyCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Deepak Bhayana
- Department of RadiologyCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Jason Wong
- Department of RadiologyCumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Henry Nguyen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of MedicineSchulich School of MedicineLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Matthew D. Sadler
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of MedicineSchulich School of MedicineLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Meredith Borman
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of MedicineSchulich School of MedicineLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Alexander I. Aspinall
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of MedicineSchulich School of MedicineLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Carla S. Coffin
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of MedicineSchulich School of MedicineLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Mark Swain
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of MedicineSchulich School of MedicineLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Abdel‐Aziz Shaheen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of MedicineSchulich School of MedicineLondonOntarioCanada
- O'Brien Institute of Public HealthSchulich School of MedicineLondonOntarioCanada
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Gurley T, Hernaez R, Cerda V, Thomas T, Narasimman M, Mittal S, Al-Hasan M, Daher D, Singal AG. Cost-effectiveness of an outreach program for HCC screening in patients with cirrhosis: a microsimulation modeling study. EClinicalMedicine 2025; 81:103113. [PMID: 40040860 PMCID: PMC11876903 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2024] [Revised: 01/29/2025] [Accepted: 01/29/2025] [Indexed: 03/06/2025] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with cirrhosis are at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but few undergo guideline-recommended semi-annual screening. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) demonstrate that mailed outreach can increase screening versus visit-based screening. We estimated the costs and cost-effectiveness of an outreach strategy versus usual care. Methods We built a 10-year Markov chain Monte Carlo microsimulation model to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing a mailed outreach program versus usual care for HCC screening in a cohort of 10,000 patients with cirrhosis. Model inputs were based on literature review (2005-current), and costs were based on inflation-adjusted estimates from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare claims data. We conducted one-way sensitivity analyses for HCC incidence, outreach costs, efficacy of the outreach strategy to increase screening, and efficacy of curative (versus palliative) HCC treatments. Findings Mailed outreach was estimated to cost $32.45 per patient in the first year and $21.90 per patient in subsequent years. The outreach program increased the number of HCC patients detected at an early stage by 48.4% and increased quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) by 300. Cost savings from these increases offset the costs of mailed outreach. Mailed outreach remained cost-effective across a wide range of HCC incidence rates, outreach costs, efficacy of the outreach strategy to increase screening, and the efficacy of curative HCC treatments. Annual out-of-pocket patient costs in the outreach arm were low at $13 per year. Interpretation Mailed outreach to encourage HCC screening in patients with cirrhosis dominates usual care and should be considered for implementation in routine practice. Funding National Cancer Institute and Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tami Gurley
- O’Donnell School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ruben Hernaez
- Department of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vanessa Cerda
- O’Donnell School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Tynaje Thomas
- O’Donnell School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Manasa Narasimman
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sukul Mittal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Mohammed Al-Hasan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Darine Daher
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Amit G. Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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Arvind A, Redmon K, Singal AG. Persisting challenges in the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2025:1-12. [PMID: 39943795 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2025.2467184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2025] [Indexed: 02/25/2025]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Prognosis in patients with HCC is largely determined by stage at diagnosis, highlighting the importance of effective early detection strategies. HCC surveillance is associated with increased early detection and reduced HCC-related mortality and is currently recommended in patients with cirrhosis or chronic HBV infection. AREAS COVERED We performed a targeted literature review to identify limitations of current HCC surveillance practices and strategies for improvement. EXPERT OPINION Semi-annual ultrasound continues as the cornerstone modality for HCC surveillance but has limited sensitivity for detecting early-stage HCC, particularly in patients with obesity and non-viral etiologies. Although sensitivity for early-stage HCC can be improved by using ultrasound with alpha fetoprotein, this strategy misses over one-third of HCC at an early stage. Emerging imaging and biomarker-based surveillance strategies currently remain in varying stages of validation and are not yet ready for routine use in practice. The cost-effectiveness of surveillance in patients with non-cirrhotic liver disease related to hepatitis C or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease continues to be debated, although subgroups with advanced fibrosis may warrant surveillance. Finally, the effectiveness of surveillance is diminished by underuse in clinical practice, particularly in racial minority and low-income groups, highlighting a need for interventions to increase utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwini Arvind
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kennedy Redmon
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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6
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El-Azab GI, El-Helw GAA, Elsabaawy MMA, Kohla MAS, Omar YAM. Evaluation of screening program for hepatocellular carcinoma at a single center. EGYPTIAN LIVER JOURNAL 2025; 15:2. [DOI: 10.1186/s43066-025-00404-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2025] [Indexed: 03/04/2025] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the seventh most common cancer in the world and is a form of liver cancer that starts in the cells of the liver. The best way to increase the chances of survival for people at high risk for HCC is to detect it early through regular monitoring. For monitoring purposes, it is recommended to conduct ultrasound exams every 4 to 6 months, sometimes in combination with alpha-fetoprotein tests.
Aim of the work
Assess the HCC surveillance and its ability to detect HCC patients early on and improve their management.
Patients and methods
The study involved 300 patients of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) investigated at Menoufia University’s Institute of National Liver in Egypt. Patients were evaluated using the Liver Cancer of Barcelona Clinic (BCLC) staging system. Furthermore, the patients were classified into three surveillance categories: no surveillance, routine surveillance, and sporadic surveillance.
Results
A substantial difference statistically among the groups that received and did not receive surveillance with consideration for the stage of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in particular was found. Patients who were observed usually got their diagnoses earlier. Those who were not under surveillance frequently had advanced cases of hepatocellular carcinoma upon diagnosis (HCC).
Conclusion
High-risk patients were regularly investigated for having HCC is necessary for early disease detection, appropriate therapy, and improved survival. Consistent monitoring with AFP and ultrasound allows for early detection of HCC.
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Abdelmalak J, Lubel JS, Sinclair M, Majeed A, Kemp W, Roberts SK. Quality of care in hepatocellular carcinoma-A critical review. Hepatol Commun 2025; 9:e0595. [PMID: 39665645 PMCID: PMC11637749 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 10/16/2024] [Indexed: 12/13/2024] Open
Abstract
There is significant variation in HCC management across different centers with poor adherence to evidence-based clinical practice guidelines as assessed in prior studies. In Australia, quality indicators (QIs) have recently been proposed by a multidisciplinary group of experts to help provide a framework to assess and monitor the quality of HCC care. In this review, we discuss the many areas where real-world practice deviates from evidence-based medicine, the role that QI sets play in addressing this gap, and the similarities and differences between Australian QIs and other leading treatment guidelines and QI sets from around the world. We focus on the utility of QI sets to identify opportunities for targeted improvement in the real-world clinical environment. We conclude with a discussion about the formation of a national clinical quality registry as a long-term measure to facilitate continual improvements in patient care within and across sites in order to optimize patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Abdelmalak
- Department of Gastroenterology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - John S. Lubel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marie Sinclair
- Victorian Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ammar Majeed
- Department of Gastroenterology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - William Kemp
- Department of Gastroenterology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stuart K. Roberts
- Department of Gastroenterology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Radu IP. Is mailed outreach and patient navigation a perfect solution to improve HCC screening? Gut 2024; 73:1929-1930. [PMID: 39179371 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2024-332920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Iuliana Pompilia Radu
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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9
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Singal AG, Narasimman M, Daher D, Yekkaluri S, Liu Y, Lee M, Cerda V, Khan A, Seif El Dahan K, Kramer J, Gopal P, Murphy C, Hernaez R. Effectiveness of mailed outreach and patient navigation to promote HCC screening process completion: a multicentre pragmatic randomised clinical trial. Gut 2024; 73:2037-2044. [PMID: 38839269 PMCID: PMC11560624 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2024-332508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is plagued by failures across the cancer care continuum, leading to frequent late-stage diagnoses and high mortality. We evaluated the effectiveness of mailed outreach invitations plus patient navigation to promote HCC screening process completion in patients with cirrhosis. METHODS Between April 2018 and September 2021, we conducted a multicentre pragmatic randomised clinical trial comparing mailed outreach plus patient navigation for HCC screening (n=1436) versus usual care with visit-based screening (n=1436) among patients with cirrhosis at three US health systems. Our primary outcome was screening process completion over a 36-month period, and our secondary outcome was the proportion of time covered (PTC) by screening. All patients were included in intention-to-screen analyses. RESULTS All 2872 participants (median age 61.3 years; 32.3% women) were included in intention-to-screen analyses. Screening process completion was observed in 6.6% (95% CI: 5.3% to 7.9%) of patients randomised to outreach and 3.3% (95% CI: 2.4% to 4.3%) of those randomised to usual care (OR 2.05, 95% CI: 1.44 to 2.92). The intervention increased HCC screening process completion across most subgroups including age, sex, race and ethnicity, Child-Turcotte-Pugh class and health system. PTC was also significantly higher in the outreach arm than usual care (mean 37.5% vs 28.2%; RR 1.33, 95% CI: 1.31 to 1.35). Despite screening underuse, most HCC in both arms were detected at an early stage. CONCLUSION Mailed outreach plus navigation significantly increased HCC screening process completion versus usual care in patients with cirrhosis, with a consistent effect across most examined subgroups. However, screening completion remained suboptimal in both arms, underscoring a need for more intensive interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02582918.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G Singal
- Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Manasa Narasimman
- Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Darine Daher
- Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Sruthi Yekkaluri
- Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Yan Liu
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - MinJae Lee
- Population and Data Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Vanessa Cerda
- Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Aisha Khan
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Karim Seif El Dahan
- Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Jennifer Kramer
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Purva Gopal
- Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Caitlin Murphy
- School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ruben Hernaez
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Singal AG, Ng M, Kulkarni A. Advancing Surveillance Strategies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A New Era of Efficacy and Precision. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2024; 14:101448. [PMID: 38946864 PMCID: PMC11214318 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2024.101448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the few cancers with a 5-year survival that has remained below 20%; however, prognosis differs by tumor stage at diagnosis. Curative treatment options among patients with early-stage HCC afford a median survival of 5-10 years. Accordingly, international society guidelines recommend semi-annual HCC surveillance in at-risk patients, including those with cirrhosis or high-risk chronic hepatitis B infection. Surveillance is associated with increased early-stage HCC detection and curative treatments, leading to reduced HCC-related mortality. Abdominal ultrasound has been the cornerstone for HCC surveillance for the past two decades, but recent data have highlighted its suboptimal sensitivity for early-stage HCC detection, particularly in patients with obesity and those with non-viral etiologies of liver disease. The combination of ultrasound plus alpha fetoprotein (AFP) has higher sensitivity for early-stage HCC detection than ultrasound alone, although the combination still misses over one-third of HCC at an early stage. Emerging imaging and blood-based biomarker strategies have promising data in biomarker phase 2 (case-control) and phase 3 (cohort) studies. Beyond ultrasound, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the best-studied imaging strategy, with superior sensitivity and specificity compared to ultrasound in a cohort study. Abbreviated MRI protocols have been proposed to address concerns about MRI radiological capacity, costs, and patient acceptance. Of biomarker strategies, GALAD (a panel including gender, age, AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP) is the best validated, with promising sensitivity for early-stage HCC detection in a national multi-center cohort study. Liquid biopsy biomarkers, including methylated DNA markers, have also shown promising accuracy in case-control studies. Abbreviated MRI and GALAD are now entering prospective trials that examine clinical outcomes such as early-stage HCC detection and screening-related harms, which are essential data to understand for adoption in clinical practice. As additional surveillance strategies become available, it will allow an era of precision surveillance in which optimal surveillance modalities are tailored to individual patient risk and expected test performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G. Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Michelle Ng
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Anand Kulkarni
- Department of Hepatology, AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, India
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Amador A, Salord S, Xiol X, Garcia-Guix M, Cachero A, Rota R, Hernandez Aretxabaleta N, Baliellas C, Castellote J. Improvement of quality of care provided to outpatients with hepatic cirrhosis after an educational intervention. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 36:941-944. [PMID: 38625820 DOI: 10.1097/meg.0000000000002778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A set of indicators has been reported to measure the quality of care for cirrhotic patients, and previously published studies report variable adherence rates to these indicators. This study aimed to assess the quality of care provided to cirrhotic outpatients before and after an educational intervention by determining its impact on adherence to quality indicators. METHODS We conducted a quasi-experimental, cross-sectional study including 324 cirrhotic patients seen in 2017 and 2019 at a tertiary teaching hospital in Spain. Quality indicators were assessed in five domains: documentation of cirrhosis etiology, disease severity assessment, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening, variceal bleeding prophylaxis, and vaccination. After identifying areas for improvement, an educational intervention was implemented. A second evaluation was performed after the intervention to assess changes in adherence rates. RESULTS Before the intervention, adherence rates were excellent (>90%) for indicators related to variceal bleeding prophylaxis and documentation of cirrhosis etiology, acceptable (60-80%) for HCC screening and disease severity assessment, and poor (<50%) for vaccinations. After the educational intervention, there was a statistically significant improvement in adherence rates for eight indicators related to HCC screening (70-90%), disease severity assessment (90%), variceal bleeding prophylaxis (>90%), and vaccinations (60-90%). CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates a significant improvement in the quality of care provided to cirrhotic outpatients after an educational intervention. The findings highlight the importance of targeted educational interventions to enhance adherence to quality indicators in the management of cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Amador
- Hepatology Unit, Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Institut Català de la Salut, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases Research Group, IDIBELL, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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Moon AM, Swier RM, Lane LM, Barritt AS, Sanoff HK, Olshan AF, Wheeler SB, Ioannou GN, Kim NJ, Hagan S, Vutien P, Benefield T, Henderson LM. Statewide Survey of Primary Care and Subspecialty Providers on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk-Stratification and Surveillance Practices. Dig Dis Sci 2024; 69:2437-2449. [PMID: 38652392 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-024-08442-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in patients with cirrhosis is associated with improved survival. Provision of HCC surveillance is low in the US, particularly in primary care settings. AIMS To evaluate current hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HCC surveillance practices and physician attitudes regarding HCC risk-stratification among primary care and subspecialty providers. METHODS Using the Tailored Design Method, we delivered a 34-item online survey to 7654 North Carolina-licensed internal/family medicine or gastroenterology/hepatology physicians and advanced practice providers in 2022. We included the domains of HCV treatment, cirrhosis diagnosis, HCC surveillance practices, barriers to surveillance, and interest in risk-stratification tools. We performed descriptive analyses to summarize responses. Tabulations were weighted based on sampling weights accounting for non-response and inter-specialty comparisons were made using chi-squared or t test statistics. RESULTS After exclusions, 266 responses were included in the final sample (response rate 3.8%). Most respondents (78%) diagnosed cirrhosis using imaging and a minority used non-invasive tests that were blood-based (~ 15%) or transient elastography (31%). Compared to primary care providers, subspecialists were more likely to perform HCC surveillance every 6-months (vs annual) (98% vs 35%, p < 0.0001). Most respondents (80%) believed there were strong data to support HCC surveillance, but primary care providers did not know which liver disease patients needed surveillance. Most providers (> 70%) expressed interest in potential solutions to improve HCC risk-stratification. CONCLUSIONS In this statewide survey, there were great knowledge gaps in HCC surveillance among PCPs and most respondents expressed interest in strategies to increase appropriate HCC surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Moon
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- UNC Liver Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 8009 Burnett Womack Bldg, CB#7584, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7584, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Rachel M Swier
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lindsay M Lane
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - A Sidney Barritt
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- UNC Liver Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 8009 Burnett Womack Bldg, CB#7584, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7584, USA
| | - Hanna K Sanoff
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Andrew F Olshan
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Stephanie B Wheeler
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - George N Ioannou
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nicole J Kim
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Scott Hagan
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington, VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, USA
| | - Philip Vutien
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Thad Benefield
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Louise M Henderson
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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13
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Wong RJ, Jones PD, Niu B, Therapondos G, Thamer M, Kshirsagar O, Zhang Y, Pinheiro P, Kyalwazi B, Fass R, Khalili M, Singal AG. Clinician-Level Knowledge and Barriers to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2411076. [PMID: 38743424 PMCID: PMC11094557 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.11076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis is underused. Identifying potentially modifiable factors to address barriers in HCC surveillance is critical to improve patient outcomes. Objective To evaluate clinician-level factors contributing to underuse of HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis. Design, Setting, and Participants This survey study included primary care clinicians (PCCs) and gastroenterology and hepatology clinicians at 5 safety-net health systems in the US. Clinicians were surveyed from March 15 to September 15, 2023, to assess knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, perceived barriers, and COVID-19-related disruptions in HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis. Data were analyzed from October to November 2023. Main Outcome and Measures HCC surveillance knowledge was assessed with 6 questions querying the respondent's ability to correctly identify appropriate use of HCC surveillance. Attitudes, perceived barriers, and beliefs regarding HCC surveillance and perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic-related disruptions with HCC surveillance were assessed with a series of statements using a 4-point Likert scale and compared PCCs and gastroenterology and hepatology clinicians. Results Overall, 347 of 1362 clinicians responded to the survey (25.5% response rate), among whom 142 of 237 (59.9%) were PCCs, 48 of 237 (20.3%) gastroenterology and hepatology, 190 of 236 (80.5%) were doctors of medicine and doctors of osteopathic medicine, and 46 of 236 (19.5%) were advanced practice clinicians. On HCC knowledge assessment, 144 of 270 (53.3%) scored 5 or more of 6 questions correctly, 37 of 48 (77.1%) among gastroenterology and hepatology vs 65 of 142 (45.8%) among PCCs (P < .001). Those with higher HCC knowledge scores were less likely to report barriers to HCC surveillance. PCCs were more likely to report inadequate time to discuss HCC surveillance (37 of 139 [26.6%] vs 2 of 48 [4.2%]; P = .001), difficulty identifying patients with cirrhosis (82 of 141 [58.2%] vs 5 of 48 [10.4%]; P < .001), and were not up-to-date with HCC surveillance guidelines (87 of 139 [62.6%] vs 5 of 48 [10.4%]; P < .001) compared with gastroenterology and hepatology clinicians. While most acknowledged delays during the COVID-19 pandemic, 62 of 136 PCCs (45.6%) and 27 of 45 gastroenterology and hepatology clinicians (60.0%) reported that patients with cirrhosis could currently complete HCC surveillance without delays. Conclusions and Relevance In this survey study, important gaps in knowledge and perceived barriers to HCC surveillance were identified. Effective delivery of HCC education to PCCs and health system-level interventions must be pursued in parallel to address the complex barriers affecting suboptimal HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Wong
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine and Gastroenterology Section, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, California
| | - Patricia D. Jones
- Division of Digestive Health and Liver Diseases, University of Miami School of Medicine and Jackson Memorial Health System, Miami, Florida
| | - Bolin Niu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, MetroHealth Hospital and Health System, Cleveland, Ohio
| | | | - Mae Thamer
- Medical Technology and Practice Patterns Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Onkar Kshirsagar
- Medical Technology and Practice Patterns Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yi Zhang
- Medical Technology and Practice Patterns Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Paulo Pinheiro
- Division of Epidemiology and Population Health Sciences, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Beverly Kyalwazi
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Ronnie Fass
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, MetroHealth Hospital and Health System, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Mandana Khalili
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California San Francisco and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco
| | - Amit G. Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health, Dallas
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14
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Daher D, Dahan KSE, Yekkaluri S, Gopal P, Rich NE, Parikh ND, Murphy CC, Singal AG. Proportion of Time Covered by Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance in Patients With Cirrhosis. Am J Gastroenterol 2024; 119:875-882. [PMID: 37975606 PMCID: PMC11068493 DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance is associated with improved early tumor detection, but effectiveness is limited by underuse. We characterized adherence to HCC surveillance using proportion of time covered (PTC) and estimated its association with clinical outcomes among patients with cirrhosis. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with HCC between January 2008 and December 2022 at 2 large US health systems. We characterized PTC by imaging in the 12 and 24 months before HCC diagnosis. We used multivariable logistic and Cox regression analyses to assess the association between PTC and early HCC detection, receipt of curative treatment, and overall survival. RESULTS Among 2,027 patients with HCC, 331 (51.4% Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer 0/A) had been followed up for at least 12 months before diagnosis. The median PTC was 24.9% (interquartile range 1.1%-50.7%), with only 16.0% having semiannual imaging and 42.0% having annual surveillance. Semiannual and annual surveillance decreased to 6.3% and 29.6% when assessed over 24 months, although the median PTC remained unchanged at 24.9%. Receipt of gastroenterology/hepatology care had the strongest association with PTC, with median PTC of 36.7% and 3.8% for those with and without gastroenterology/hepatology care, respectively. PTC was independently associated with improved early HCC detection, curative treatment receipt, and overall survival. The median survival was 15.7, 26.8, and 32.7 months among those with PTC of <25% (n = 168 patients), PTC 25%-50% (n = 69 patients), and PTC >50% (n = 94 patients), respectively. DISCUSSION The proportion of time covered by HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis remains low, highlighting a need for multilevel interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darine Daher
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Karim Seif El Dahan
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sruthi Yekkaluri
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Purva Gopal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Nicole E. Rich
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Neehar D. Parikh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
| | | | - Amit G. Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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15
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Beal EW, McNamara M, Owen M, McAlearney AS, Tsung A. Interventions to Improve Surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in High-Risk Patients: A Scoping Review. J Gastrointest Cancer 2024; 55:1-14. [PMID: 37328730 DOI: 10.1007/s12029-023-00944-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is most often a sequela of chronic liver disease or chronic hepatitis B infection. Among high-risk patients, surveillance for HCC every 6 months is recommended by international guidelines. However, rates of HCC surveillance are suboptimal (11-64%). Barriers at the patient, provider, and healthcare delivery system levels have been identified. METHODS We performed a systemic scoping review to identify and characterize interventions to improve HCC surveillance that has previously been evaluated. Searches using key terms in PubMed and Embase were performed to identify studies examining interventions designed to improve the surveillance rate for HCC in patients with cirrhosis or chronic liver disease that were published in English between January 1990 and September 2021. RESULTS Included studies (14) had the following study designs: (1) randomized clinical trials (3, 21.4%), (2) quasi-experimental (2, 14.3%), (3) prospective cohort (6, 42.8%), and (4) retrospective cohort (3, 21.4%). Interventions included mailed outreach invitations, nursing outreach, patient education with or without printed materials, provider education, patient navigation, chronic disease management programs, nursing-led protocols for image ordering, automated reminders to physicians and nurses, web-based clinical management tools, HCC surveillance databases, provider compliance reports, radiology-led surveillance programs, subsidized HCC surveillance, and the use of oral medications. It was found that HCC surveillance rates increased after intervention implementation in all studies. CONCLUSION Despite improvements in HCC surveillance rates with intervention, compliance remained suboptimal. Further analysis of which interventions yield the greatest increases in HCC surveillance, design of multi-pronged strategies, and improved implementation are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza W Beal
- Departments of Surgery and Oncology, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 4100 John R, Mailcode: HW04HO, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
| | - Molly McNamara
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Mackenzie Owen
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Ann Scheck McAlearney
- The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research (CATALYST), The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Allan Tsung
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottsville, VA, 22908, USA
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16
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Daher D, Seif El Dahan K, Cano A, Gonzales M, Ransom C, Jaurez E, Carranza O, Quirk L, Morgan T, Gopal P, Patel MS, Lieber S, Louissaint J, Cotter TG, VanWagner LB, Yang JD, Parikh ND, Yopp A, Rich NE, Singal AG. Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Patterns and Outcomes in Patients With Cirrhosis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 22:295-304.e2. [PMID: 37573986 PMCID: PMC11415236 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2023.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance is associated with improved early detection and reduced mortality, although practice patterns and effectiveness vary in clinical practice. We aimed to characterize HCC surveillance patterns in a large, diverse cohort of patients with HCC. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with HCC between January 2008 and December 2022 at 2 large US health systems. We recorded imaging receipt in the year before HCC diagnosis: ultrasound plus α-fetoprotein (AFP), ultrasound alone, multiphasic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and no liver imaging. We used multivariable logistic and Cox regression analysis to compare early tumor detection, curative treatment receipt, and overall survival between surveillance strategies. RESULTS Among 2028 patients with HCC (46.7% Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage A), 703 (34.7%) had ultrasound plus AFP, 293 (14.5%) had ultrasound alone, 326 (16.1%) had multiphasic CT/MRI, and 706 (34.8%) had no imaging in the year before HCC diagnosis. Over the study period, proportions without imaging were stable, whereas use of CT/MRI increased. Compared with no imaging, CT/MRI and ultrasound plus AFP, but not ultrasound alone, were associated with early stage HCC detection and curative treatment. Compared with ultrasound alone, CT/MRI and ultrasound plus AFP were associated with increased early stage detection. CONCLUSIONS HCC surveillance patterns vary in clinical practice and are associated with differing clinical outcomes. While awaiting data to determine if CT or MRI surveillance can be performed in a cost-effective manner in selected patients, AFP has a complementary role to ultrasound-based surveillance, supporting its adoption in practice guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darine Daher
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Karim Seif El Dahan
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Alva Cano
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Michael Gonzales
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Crystal Ransom
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Erik Jaurez
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Osiris Carranza
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Lisa Quirk
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Todd Morgan
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Purva Gopal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Madhukar S Patel
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Sarah Lieber
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Jeremy Louissaint
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Thomas G Cotter
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Lisa B VanWagner
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Ju Dong Yang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Adam Yopp
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Nicole E Rich
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
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17
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Choi HH, Kim S, Shum DJ, Huang CY, Shui A, Fox RK, Khalili M. Assessing Adherence to US LI-RADS Follow-up Recommendations in Vulnerable Patients Undergoing Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance. Radiol Imaging Cancer 2024; 6:e230118. [PMID: 38214600 PMCID: PMC10825700 DOI: 10.1148/rycan.230118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Purpose To assess adherence to the US Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) recommendations for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance and associated patient-level factors in a vulnerable, diverse patient sample. Materials and Methods The radiology report database was queried retrospectively for patients who underwent US LI-RADS-based surveillance examinations at a single institution between June 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021. Initial US and follow-up liver imaging were included. Sociodemographic and clinical data were captured from electronic medical records. Adherence to radiologist recommendation was defined as imaging (US, CT, or MRI) follow-up in 5-7 months for US-1, imaging follow-up in 3-6 months for US-2, and CT or MRI follow-up in 2 months for US-3. Descriptive analysis and multivariable modeling that adjusted for age, sex, race, and time since COVID-19 pandemic onset were performed. Results Among 936 patients, the mean age was 59.1 years; 531 patients (56.7%) were male and 544 (58.1%) were Asian or Pacific Islander, 91 (9.7%) were Black, 129 (13.8%) were Hispanic, 147 (15.7%) were White, and 25 (2.7%) self-reported as other race. The overall adherence rate was 38.8% (95% CI: 35.7, 41.9). The most common liver disease etiology was hepatitis B (60.6% [657 of 936 patients]); 19.7% of patients (183 of 936) had current or past substance use disorder, and 44.8% (416 of 936) smoked. At adjusted multivariable analysis, older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.20; P = .02), male sex (OR, 1.62; P = .003), hepatology clinic attendance (OR, 3.81; P < .001), and recent prior US examination (OR, 2.44; P < .001) were associated with full adherence, while current smoking (OR, 0.39; P < .001) was negatively associated. Conclusion Adherence to HCC imaging surveillance was suboptimal, despite US LI-RADS implementation. Keywords: Liver, Ultrasound, Screening, Abdomen/GI, Cirrhosis, Metabolic Disorders, Socioeconomic Issues Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2024.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailey H. Choi
- From the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University
of California San Francisco, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, 505
Parnassus Ave, Box 0628, Room 255, San Francisco, CA 94143 (H.H.C., D.J.S.); and
Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine (S.K., R.K.F.),
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (C.Y.H., A.S.), and Department of
Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (M.K.), University of
California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif
| | - Stephanie Kim
- From the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University
of California San Francisco, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, 505
Parnassus Ave, Box 0628, Room 255, San Francisco, CA 94143 (H.H.C., D.J.S.); and
Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine (S.K., R.K.F.),
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (C.Y.H., A.S.), and Department of
Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (M.K.), University of
California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif
| | - Dorothy J. Shum
- From the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University
of California San Francisco, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, 505
Parnassus Ave, Box 0628, Room 255, San Francisco, CA 94143 (H.H.C., D.J.S.); and
Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine (S.K., R.K.F.),
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (C.Y.H., A.S.), and Department of
Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (M.K.), University of
California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif
| | - Chiung-Yu Huang
- From the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University
of California San Francisco, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, 505
Parnassus Ave, Box 0628, Room 255, San Francisco, CA 94143 (H.H.C., D.J.S.); and
Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine (S.K., R.K.F.),
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (C.Y.H., A.S.), and Department of
Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (M.K.), University of
California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif
| | - Amy Shui
- From the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University
of California San Francisco, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, 505
Parnassus Ave, Box 0628, Room 255, San Francisco, CA 94143 (H.H.C., D.J.S.); and
Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine (S.K., R.K.F.),
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (C.Y.H., A.S.), and Department of
Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (M.K.), University of
California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif
| | - Rena K. Fox
- From the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University
of California San Francisco, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, 505
Parnassus Ave, Box 0628, Room 255, San Francisco, CA 94143 (H.H.C., D.J.S.); and
Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine (S.K., R.K.F.),
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (C.Y.H., A.S.), and Department of
Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (M.K.), University of
California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif
| | - Mandana Khalili
- From the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University
of California San Francisco, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, 505
Parnassus Ave, Box 0628, Room 255, San Francisco, CA 94143 (H.H.C., D.J.S.); and
Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine (S.K., R.K.F.),
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (C.Y.H., A.S.), and Department of
Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (M.K.), University of
California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif
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18
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Mehta SJ, McDonald C, Reitz C, Kastuar S, Snider CK, Okorie E, McNelis K, Shaikh H, Cook TS, Goldberg DS, Rothstein K. A randomized trial of mailed outreach with behavioral economic interventions to improve liver cancer surveillance. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0349. [PMID: 38099859 PMCID: PMC10727671 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Surveillance rates for HCC remain limited in patients with cirrhosis. We evaluated whether opt-out mailed outreach increased uptake with or without a $20 unconditional incentive. METHODS This was a pragmatic randomized controlled trial in an urban academic health system including adult patients with cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis, at least 1 visit to a specialty practice in the past 2 years and no surveillance in the last 7 months. Patients were randomized in a 1:2:2 ratio to (1) usual care, (2) a mailed letter with a signed order for an ultrasound, or (3) a mailed letter with an order and a $20 unconditional incentive. The main outcome was the proportion with completion of ultrasound within 6 months. RESULTS Among the 562 patients included, the mean age was 62.1 (SD 11.1); 56.8% were male, 51.1% had Medicare, and 40.6% were Black. At 6 months, 27.6% (95% CI: 19.5-35.7) completed ultrasound in the Usual care arm, 54.5% (95% CI: 47.9-61.0) in the Letter + Order arm, and 54.1% (95% CI: 47.5-60.6) in the Letter + Order + Incentive arm. There was a significant increase in the Letter + Order arm compared to Usual care (absolute difference of 26.9%; 95% CI: 16.5-37.3; p<0.001), but no significant increase in the Letter + Order + Incentive arm compared to Letter + Order (absolute difference of -0.4; 95% CI: -9.7 to 8.8; p=0.93). CONCLUSIONS There was an increase in HCC surveillance from mailed outreach with opt-out framing and a signed order slip, but no increase in response to the financial incentive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivan J. Mehta
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
- Center for Health Care Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Caitlin McDonald
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
- Center for Health Care Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Catherine Reitz
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
- Center for Health Care Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Shivani Kastuar
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | | | - Evelyn Okorie
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
- Center for Health Care Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Kiernan McNelis
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
- Center for Health Care Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Hamzah Shaikh
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Tessa S. Cook
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - David S. Goldberg
- Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Kenneth Rothstein
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
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Koo E, Singal AG. Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance: Evidence-Based Tailored Approach. Surg Oncol Clin N Am 2024; 33:13-28. [PMID: 37945138 DOI: 10.1016/j.soc.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance is recommended by professional society guidelines given a consistent association with reduced HCC-related mortality. HCC surveillance should be performed using semiannual abdominal ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein, although this combination has suboptimal sensitivity and can miss more than one-third of HCC at an early stage. There are promising emerging blood-based and imaging-based strategies, including abbreviated MRI and biomarker panels; however, these require further validation before routine use in clinical practice. HCC surveillance is underused in clinical practice due to patient-related and provider-related barriers, highlighting a need for interventions to improve surveillance utilization in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eden Koo
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5959 Harry Hines Boulevard, POB 1, Suite 420, Dallas, TX 75390-8887, USA.
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20
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Huang DQ, Singal AG, Kanwal F, Lampertico P, Buti M, Sirlin CB, Nguyen MH, Loomba R. Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance - utilization, barriers and the impact of changing aetiology. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 20:797-809. [PMID: 37537332 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-023-00818-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Surveillance for HCC is critical for early detection and treatment, but fewer than one-quarter of individuals at risk of HCC undergo surveillance. Multiple failures across the screening process contribute to the underutilization of surveillance, including limited disease awareness among patients and health-care providers, knowledge gaps, and difficulty recognizing patients who are at risk. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcohol-associated liver disease are the fastest-rising causes of HCC-related death worldwide and are associated with unique barriers to surveillance. In particular, more than one-third of patients with HCC related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease do not have cirrhosis and therefore lack a routine indication for HCC surveillance on the basis of current practice guidelines. Semi-annual abdominal ultrasound with measurement of α-fetoprotein levels is recommended for HCC surveillance, but the sensitivity of this approach for early HCC is limited, especially for patients with cirrhosis or obesity. In this Review, we discuss the current status of HCC surveillance and the remaining challenges, including the changing aetiology of liver disease. We also discuss strategies to improve the utilization and quality of surveillance for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Q Huang
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt), Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Pietro Lampertico
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Milan, Italy
- CRC "A. M. and A. Migliavacca" Center for Liver Disease, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Buti
- Liver Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Valle d'Hebron, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER-EHD del Instituto Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claude B Sirlin
- Liver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, UCSD School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mindie H Nguyen
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Rohit Loomba
- NAFLD Research Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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Singal AG, Llovet JM, Yarchoan M, Mehta N, Heimbach JK, Dawson LA, Jou JH, Kulik LM, Agopian VG, Marrero JA, Mendiratta-Lala M, Brown DB, Rilling WS, Goyal L, Wei AC, Taddei TH. AASLD Practice Guidance on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2023; 78:1922-1965. [PMID: 37199193 PMCID: PMC10663390 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 646] [Impact Index Per Article: 323.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Amit G. Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Josep M. Llovet
- Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Translational Research in Hepatic Oncology, Liver Unit, August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Mark Yarchoan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Neil Mehta
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Laura A. Dawson
- Radiation Medicine Program/University Health Network, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Janice H. Jou
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Laura M. Kulik
- Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Vatche G. Agopian
- The Dumont–University of California, Los Angeles, Transplant Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jorge A. Marrero
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mishal Mendiratta-Lala
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Daniel B. Brown
- Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - William S. Rilling
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Lipika Goyal
- Department of Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Alice C. Wei
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Tamar H. Taddei
- Department of Medicine (Digestive Diseases), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
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Singal AG, Kanwal F, Llovet JM. Global trends in hepatocellular carcinoma epidemiology: implications for screening, prevention and therapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2023; 20:864-884. [PMID: 37884736 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00825-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 280] [Impact Index Per Article: 140.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mortality rates are increasing globally, and particularly in the Western world. Cirrhosis remains the predominant risk factor for HCC. However, epidemiological shifts in the incidence of HCC from patients with virus-related liver disease to those with non-viral aetiologies, including alcohol-associated and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, have important implications for prevention, surveillance and treatment. Hepatitis B vaccination and antiviral therapy for hepatitis B and C are effective for primary prevention of virus-related HCCs, but chemoprevention strategies for non-viral liver disease remain an unmet need. Emerging data suggest associations between aspirin, statins, metformin and coffee and reduced HCC incidence, although none has been proved to be causally related. Secondary prevention of HCC via semi-annual surveillance is associated with improvements in early detection and thus reduced mortality; however, current tools, including abdominal ultrasonography, have suboptimal sensitivity for the detection of early stage HCC, particularly in patients with obesity and/or non-viral liver disease. Promising blood-based or imaging-based surveillance strategies are emerging, although these approaches require further validation before adoption in clinical practice. In the interim, efforts should be focused on maximizing use of the existing surveillance tools given their prevalent underuse globally. Remarkable advances have been made in the treatment of HCC, including expanded eligibility for surgical therapies, improved patient selection for locoregional treatments and increased systemic treatment options, including immune-checkpoint inhibitors. In this Review, we discuss trends in the epidemiology of HCC and their implications for screening, prevention and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Section of Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- VA Health Services Research & Development Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety (IQuESt), Houston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Josep M Llovet
- Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Translational Research in Hepatic Oncology, Liver Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
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23
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Zhang X, Yip TCF, Wong GLH, Leow WX, Liang LY, Lim LL, Li G, Ibrahim L, Lin H, Lai JCT, Chim AML, Chan HLY, Kong APS, Chan WK, Wong VWS. Clinical care pathway to detect advanced liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes through automated fibrosis score calculation and electronic reminder messages: a randomised controlled trial. Gut 2023; 72:2364-2371. [PMID: 37549979 PMCID: PMC10715546 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-330269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to test the hypothesis that automated fibrosis score calculation and electronic reminder messages could increase the detection of advanced liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. DESIGN In this pragmatic randomised controlled trial at five general medical or diabetes clinics in Hong Kong and Malaysia, we randomly assigned patients in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention group with Fibrosis-4 index and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index automatically calculated based on routine blood tests, followed by electronic reminder messages to alert clinicians of abnormal results, or the control group with usual care. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with increased fibrosis scores who received appropriate care (referred for hepatology care or specific fibrosis assessment) within 1 year. RESULTS Between May 2020 and Oct 2021, 1379 patients were screened, of whom 533 and 528 were assigned to the intervention and control groups, respectively. A total of 55 out of 165 (33.3%) patients with increased fibrosis scores in the intervention group received appropriate care, compared with 4 of 131 (3.1%) patients in the control group (difference 30.2% (95% CI 22.4% to 38%); p<0.001). Overall, 11 out of 533 (2.1%) patients in the intervention group and 1 out of 528 (0.2%) patients in the control group were confirmed to have advanced liver disease (difference 1.9% (95% CI 0.61% to 3.5%); p=0.006). CONCLUSION Automated fibrosis score calculation and electronic reminders can increase referral of patients with type 2 diabetes and abnormal fibrosis scores at non-hepatology settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04241575.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinrong Zhang
- Medical Data Analytics Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Terry Cheuk-Fung Yip
- Medical Data Analytics Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Grace Lai-Hung Wong
- Medical Data Analytics Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei-Xuan Leow
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Lilian Yan Liang
- Medical Data Analytics Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Lee-Ling Lim
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Guanlin Li
- Medical Data Analytics Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Luqman Ibrahim
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Huapeng Lin
- Medical Data Analytics Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jimmy Che To Lai
- Medical Data Analytics Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Angel Mei-Ling Chim
- Medical Data Analytics Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Henry Lik Yuen Chan
- Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Union Hospital, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Alice Pik-Shan Kong
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wah Kheong Chan
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Vincent Wai-Sun Wong
- Medical Data Analytics Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
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24
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Hui S, Bell S, Le S, Dev A. Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in Australia: current and future perspectives. Med J Aust 2023; 219:432-438. [PMID: 37803907 DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and is increasing in incidence in Australia. For most people with cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B, HCC screening and surveillance is recommended with 6-monthly ultrasound. However, most patients with HCC are still diagnosed outside of surveillance with incurable disease. While HCC surveillance almost certainly reduces cancer-related mortality, the potential harms of surveillance are incompletely understood. Surveillance uptake remains suboptimal in many contexts, and stems from a combination of patient, clinician and system level barriers. Improved case-finding strategies may be required to identify high risk individuals in need of surveillance, as cirrhosis and viral hepatitis are often asymptomatic. HCC prediction models and novel surveillance tools such as biomarker panels, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging may have a future role in personalised HCC surveillance. Analyses suggest surveillance may be cost-effective, but Australian data remain limited. A centralised HCC surveillance program may ultimately have a role in delivering improved and more equitable care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Hui
- School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC
| | - Sally Bell
- School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC
| | - Suong Le
- School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC
| | - Anouk Dev
- School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC
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25
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Kim NJ, Cravero A, VoPham T, Vutien P, Carr R, Issaka RB, Johnston J, McMahon B, Mera J, Ioannou GN. Addressing racial and ethnic disparities in US liver cancer care. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e00190. [PMID: 37347221 PMCID: PMC10289716 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
HCC, the most common form of primary liver cancer, is the fastest rising cause of cancer-related death in the United States. HCC disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. A practical framework is needed to organize the complex patient, provider, health system, and societal factors that drive these racial and ethnic disparities. In this narrative review, we adapted and applied the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Framework to the HCC care continuum, as a step toward better understanding and addressing existing HCC-related disparities. We first summarize the literature on HCC-related disparities by race and ethnicity organized by the framework's 5 domains (biological, behavioral, physical/built environment, sociocultural environment, and health care system) and 4 levels (individual, interpersonal, community, and societal) of influence. We then offer strategies to guide future research initiatives toward promotion of health equity in HCC care. Clinicians and researchers may help mitigate further inequities and better address racial and ethnic disparities in HCC care by prioritizing the following in HCC research: (1) increasing racial and ethnic minority representation, (2) collecting and reporting HCC-related data by racial and ethnic subgroups, (3) assessing the patient experience of HCC care by race and ethnicity, and (4) evaluating HCC-specific social determinants of health by race and ethnicity. These 4 priorities will help inform the development of future programs and interventions that are tailored to the unique experiences of each racial and ethnic group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole J. Kim
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Anne Cravero
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Trang VoPham
- Epidemiology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Philip Vutien
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Rotonya Carr
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Rachel B. Issaka
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Janet Johnston
- Liver Disease and Hepatitis Program, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, Alaska
| | - Brian McMahon
- Liver Disease and Hepatitis Program, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, Alaska
| | - Jorge Mera
- Cherokee Nation Health Services, Tahlequah, Oklahoma
| | - George N. Ioannou
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Singal AG, Sanduzzi-Zamparelli M, Nahon P, Ronot M, Hoshida Y, Rich N, Reig M, Vilgrain V, Marrero J, Llovet JM, Parikh ND, Villanueva A. International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) white paper on hepatocellular carcinoma risk stratification and surveillance. J Hepatol 2023; 79:226-239. [PMID: 36854345 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Major research efforts in liver cancer have been devoted to increasing the efficacy and effectiveness of surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As with other cancers, surveillance programmes aim to detect tumours at an early stage, facilitate curative-intent treatment, and reduce cancer-related mortality. HCC surveillance is supported by a large randomised-controlled trial in patients with chronic HBV infection and several cohort studies in cirrhosis; however, effectiveness in clinical practice is limited by several barriers, including inadequate risk stratification, underuse of surveillance, and suboptimal accuracy of screening tests. There are several proposed strategies to address these limitations, including risk stratification algorithms and biomarkers to better identity at-risk individuals, interventions to increase surveillance, and emerging imaging- and blood-based surveillance tests with improved sensitivity and specificity for early HCC detection. Beyond clinical validation, data are needed to establish clinical utility, i.e. increased early tumour detection and reduced HCC-related mortality. If successful, these data could facilitate a precision screening paradigm in which surveillance strategies are tailored to individual HCC risk to maximise overall surveillance value. However, practical and logistical considerations must be considered when designing and implementing these validation efforts. To address these issues, ILCA (the International Liver Cancer Association) adjourned a single topic workshop on HCC risk stratification and surveillance in June 2022. Herein, we present a white paper on these topics, including the status of the field, ongoing research efforts, and barriers to the translation of emerging strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Marco Sanduzzi-Zamparelli
- BCLC Group, Liver Oncology Unit, Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions, Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), CIBERehd, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pierre Nahon
- APHP, Liver Unit, Bobigny, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, F-93000 Bobigny, France; Inserm, UMR-1138 "Functional Genomics of Solid Tumors", Centre de recherche des Cordeliers, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Maxime Ronot
- Université Paris Cité, CRI INSERM UMR 1149, Paris & Department of radiology, Hôpital Beaujon, APHP. Nord, Clichy, France
| | - Yujin Hoshida
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Nicole Rich
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Maria Reig
- BCLC Group, Liver Oncology Unit, Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions, Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), CIBERehd, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valerie Vilgrain
- Université Paris Cité, CRI INSERM UMR 1149, Paris & Department of radiology, Hôpital Beaujon, APHP. Nord, Clichy, France
| | - Jorge Marrero
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Josep M Llovet
- Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Translational Research in Hepatic Oncology, Liver Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Augusto Villanueva
- Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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27
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Beal EW, Owen M, McNamara M, McAlearney AS, Tsung A. Patient-, Provider-, and System-Level Barriers to Surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in High-Risk Patients in the USA: a Scoping Review. J Gastrointest Cancer 2023; 54:332-356. [PMID: 35879510 DOI: 10.1007/s12029-022-00851-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatocellular carcinoma has a dismal prognosis, except in patients diagnosed early who are candidates for potentially curative therapies. Most HCC cases develop in patients with chronic liver disease. Therefore, expert society guidelines recommend surveillance every 6 months with ultrasound with or without serum alpha-fetoprotein for high-risk patients. However, fewer than 20% of patients in the USA undergo appropriate surveillance. METHODS A systematic scoping review was performed with the objective of identifying barriers to screening among high-risk patients in the USA including mapping key concepts in the relevant literature, identifying the main sources and types of evidence available, and identifying gaps in the literature. A total of 43 studies published from 2007 to 2021 were included. Data were extracted and a conceptual framework was created. RESULTS Assessment of quantitative studies revealed poor surveillance rates, often below 50%. Three categories of barriers to surveillance were identified: patient-level, provider-level, and system-level barriers. Prevalent patient-level barriers included financial constraints, lack of awareness of surveillance recommendations, and scheduling difficulties. Common provider-level barriers were lack of provider awareness of guidelines for surveillance, difficulty accessing specialty resources, and time constraints in the clinic. System-level barriers included fewer clinic visits and rural/safety-net settings. Proposed interventions include improved patient/provider education, patient navigators, increased community/academic collaboration, and EMR-based reminders. CONCLUSION Based on these findings, there is a crucial need to implement and evaluate proposed interventions to improve HCC surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza W Beal
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
- The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research (CATALYST, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, AnalyticsColumbus, OH, 43210, USA.
| | - Mackenzie Owen
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Molly McNamara
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Ann Scheck McAlearney
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research (CATALYST, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, AnalyticsColumbus, OH, 43210, USA
- The Department of Family and Community Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Allan Tsung
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Systems Thinking in Health Services and Implementation Science Research (CATALYST, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, AnalyticsColumbus, OH, 43210, USA
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McMahon B, Cohen C, Brown Jr RS, El-Serag H, Ioannou GN, Lok AS, Roberts LR, Singal AG, Block T. Opportunities to address gaps in early detection and improve outcomes of liver cancer. JNCI Cancer Spectr 2023; 7:pkad034. [PMID: 37144952 PMCID: PMC10212536 DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pkad034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Death rates from primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]) have continued to rise in the United States over the recent decades despite the availability of an increasing range of treatment modalities, including new systemic therapies. Prognosis is strongly associated with tumor stage at diagnosis; however, most cases of HCC are diagnosed beyond an early stage. This lack of early detection has contributed to low survival rates. Professional society guidelines recommend semiannual ultrasound-based HCC screening for at-risk populations, yet HCC surveillance continues to be underused in clinical practice. On April 28, 2022, the Hepatitis B Foundation convened a workshop to discuss the most pressing challenges and barriers to early HCC detection and the need to better leverage existing and emerging tools and technologies that could improve HCC screening and early detection. In this commentary, we summarize technical, patient-level, provider-level, and system-level challenges and opportunities to improve processes and outcomes across the HCC screening continuum. We highlight promising approaches to HCC risk stratification and screening, including new biomarkers, advanced imaging incorporating artificial intelligence, and algorithms for risk stratification. Workshop participants emphasized that action to improve early detection and reduce HCC mortality is urgently needed, noting concern that many of the challenges we face today are the same or similar to those faced a decade ago and that HCC mortality rates have not meaningfully improved. Increasing the uptake of HCC screening was identified as a short-term priority while developing and validating better screening tests and risk-appropriate surveillance strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian McMahon
- Liver Disease and Hepatitis Program, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | | | - Robert S Brown Jr
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hashem El-Serag
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - George N Ioannou
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Anna S Lok
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lewis R Roberts
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Timothy Block
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute and Hepatitis B Foundation, Doylestown, PA, USA
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Criss C, Nagar AM, Makary MS. Hepatocellular carcinoma: State of the art diagnostic imaging. World J Radiol 2023; 15:56-68. [PMID: 37035828 PMCID: PMC10080581 DOI: 10.4329/wjr.v15.i3.56] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer is the fourth most common malignancy worldwide, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) comprising up to 90% of cases. Imaging is a staple for surveillance and diagnostic criteria for HCC in current guidelines. Because early diagnosis can impact treatment approaches, utilizing new imaging methods and protocols to aid in differentiation and tumor grading provides a unique opportunity to drastically impact patient prognosis. Within this review manuscript, we provide an overview of imaging modalities used to screen and evaluate HCC. We also briefly discuss emerging uses of new imaging techniques that offer the potential for improving current paradigms for HCC characterization, management, and treatment monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody Criss
- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, United States
| | - Arpit M Nagar
- Department of Radiology, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Mina S Makary
- Department of Radiology, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
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30
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King WW, Richhart R, Culpepper T, Mota M, Banerjee D, Ismael M, Chakraborty J, Ladna M, Khan W, Ruiz N, Wilson J, Altshuler E, Clark V, Cabrera R. Adherence to guideline-directed hepatocellular carcinoma screening: A single-center US experience. World J Hepatol 2023; 15:410-418. [PMID: 37034234 PMCID: PMC10075011 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v15.i3.410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The American Association for the Study of Liver Disease recommends screening patients with cirrhosis for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using imaging with or without alpha-fetoprotein every six months. Unfortunately, screening rates remain inadequate.
AIM To assess root causes of screening failure in a subspecialty hepatology clinic.
METHODS The authors identified patients with cirrhosis seen in a subspecialty hepatology clinic and determined whether they underwent appropriate screening, defined as two cross-sectional images between five and seven months apart. The authors characterized the primary driver of screening failure. Finally, other hepatologists were surveyed to determine provider perceptions of screening failure causes.
RESULTS 1034 patients were identified with an average age of 61 years and a mean MELD of 8.1 ± 3.8. Hepatitis C virus was the most common cirrhosis etiology. 489 (47%) underwent appropriate screening. No demographic or clinical differences were detected between those who underwent appropriate screening and those who did not. The most common etiologies of screening failure, in descending order, were: radiology unable to schedule timely imaging, provider did not order imaging, patient canceled follow up appointment, appointments scheduled too far apart, lost to follow up, no-show to radiology appointment, and provider canceled appointment. Hepatologists surveyed believed the most common cause of screening failure was no-show to radiology.
CONCLUSION Rates of screening were poor even in a subspecialty hepatology clinic. Screening failure was mostly due to systemic factors such as radiology availability and time between hepatology appointments rather than individual error.
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Affiliation(s)
- William W King
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Raymond Richhart
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Tyler Culpepper
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Maneola Mota
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Debdeep Banerjee
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Media Ismael
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Joydeep Chakraborty
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Michael Ladna
- Department of Hospital Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Walid Khan
- Department of Hospital Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Nicole Ruiz
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Jake Wilson
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Ellery Altshuler
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Virginia Clark
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Roniel Cabrera
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
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31
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Daher D, Dahan KSE, Singal AG. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-related hepatocellular carcinoma. JOURNAL OF LIVER CANCER 2023; 23:127-142. [PMID: 37384032 PMCID: PMC10202236 DOI: 10.17998/jlc.2022.12.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), one of the most common causes of liver disease, is an increasingly common cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several demographic, clinical, and genetic factors contribute to HCC risk in NAFLD patients, which may inform risk stratification scores. Proven efficacious approaches to primary prevention approach in patients with non-viral liver disease remain an area of need. Semi-annual surveillance is associated with improved early tumor detection and reduced HCC-related mortality; however, patients with NAFLD have several challenges to effective surveillance, including under-recognition of at-risk patients, low surveillance utilization in clinical practice, and lower sensitivity of current tools for early-stage HCC detection. Treatment decisions are best made in a multidisciplinary fashion and are informed by several factors including tumor burden, liver dysfunction, performance status, and patient preferences. Although patients with NAFLD often have larger tumor burden and increased comorbidities compared to counterparts, they can achieve similar post-treatment survival with careful patient selection. Therefore, surgical therapies continue to provide a curative treatment option for patients diagnosed at an early stage. Although there has been debate about the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with NAFLD, current data are insufficient to change treatment selection based on liver disease etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darine Daher
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Karim Seif El Dahan
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Amit G. Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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32
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Development of a nurse-led decision counselling program for improving hepatocellular carcinoma screening: A typology-guided feasibility study. Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apjon.2023.100215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
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Seif El Dahan K, Daher D, Singal AG. Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Clin Mol Hepatol 2023; 29:S207-S219. [PMID: 36103899 PMCID: PMC10029960 DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2022.0247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may progress to cirrhotic or non-cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and is currently recognized as the fastest growing cause of HCC worldwide. Accordingly, professional society guidelines recommend HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis from any etiology, and some may consider it beneficial in subgroups with non-cirrhotic NAFLD at higher risk for HCC. Notably, patients with NAFLD-related HCC are more likely to have HCC diagnosed at more advanced stages and have poorer outcomes when compared to other etiologies, and suboptimal effectiveness of HCC surveillance programs is a major culprit. In this review, we summarize the current guidelines for HCC surveillance and discuss its benefits versus potential harms for NAFLD patients. We also address the unique challenges of HCC surveillance in NAFLD, including higher proportion of NAFLD-related HCC without cirrhosis, poor recognition of at-risk patients, lack of consensus regarding the value of surveillance in non-cirrhotic NAFLD, subpar effectiveness of surveillance tools related to NAFLD phenotype, and preponderant surveillance underuse among NAFLD patients. Finally, we examine the effectiveness of currently used surveillance tools (i.e., ultrasound and alpha fetoprotein) and outline future perspectives including emerging risk stratification tools, imaging surveillance strategies (e.g., abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging protocols), blood-based biomarkers (e.g., GALAD and circulating tumor DNA panels), and interventions to improve surveillance adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Seif El Dahan
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Darine Daher
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Amit G. Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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34
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Ramai D, Singh J, Chandan S, Tartaglia N, Ambrosi A, Khan SR, Sacco R, Facciorusso A. Utilization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Programs in Patients With Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Gastroenterol 2023; 57:198-203. [PMID: 34999648 DOI: 10.1097/mcg.0000000000001668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Patients with cirrhosis are advised to undergo hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance every 6 months. Routine surveillance is associated with early tumor detection and improved survival. However, surveillance is underutilized. We aimed to characterize the uptake of HCC surveillance in cirrhotic patients following the implementation of interventional programs. We performed a comprehensive literature search of major databases (from inception to October 2020). Surveillance was defined as having an abdominal sonogram every 6 months. Nine studies were included for meta-analysis which involved 4550 patients. The etiology of liver cirrhosis was largely due to hepatitis C or B (n=2023), followed by alcohol (n=857), and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (n=432). Patients enrolled in surveillance programs were 6 times more likely to undergo abdominal sonography when compared with standard of care (odds ratio=6.00; 95% confidence interval: 3.35-10.77). On subgroup analysis, clinical reminders were associated with a 4 times higher rate of HCC surveillance compared with standard of care (odds ratio=3.80; 95% confidence interval: 2.25-6.39). Interventional programs significantly improve the rate of HCC surveillance. This is clinically impactful and should be considered as a means for improving surveillance rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daryl Ramai
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Jameel Singh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mather Hospital, Northwell Health, Port Jefferson, NY
| | - Saurabh Chandan
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha, NE
| | - Nicola Tartaglia
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, General Surgery Unit
| | - Antonio Ambrosi
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, General Surgery Unit
| | - Shahab R Khan
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Rodolfo Sacco
- Section of Internal Medicine, Hospital of Faenza, Faenza, Italy
| | - Antonio Facciorusso
- Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia
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35
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Cholankeril G, El-Serag HB. Current Challenges and Future Direction in Surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Semin Liver Dis 2023; 43:89-99. [PMID: 36216350 DOI: 10.1055/a-1957-8540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The burden for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) attributed to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) continues to grow in parallel with rising global trends in obesity. The risk of HCC is elevated among patients with NAFLD-related cirrhosis to a level that justifies surveillance based on cost-effectiveness argument. The quality of current evidence for HCC surveillance in all patients with chronic liver disease is poor, and even lower in those with NAFLD. For a lack of more precise risk-stratification tools, current approaches to defining a target population in noncirrhotic NAFLD are limited to noninvasive tests for liver fibrosis, as a proxy for liver-related morbidity and mortality. Beyond etiology and severity of liver disease, traditional and metabolic risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus, older age, male gender and tobacco smoking, are not enough for HCC risk stratification for surveillance efficacy and effectiveness in NAFLD. There is an association between molecular and genetic factors and HCC risk in NAFLD, and risk models integrating both clinical and genetic factors will be key to personalizing HCC risk. In this review, we discuss concerns regarding defining a target population, surveillance test accuracy, surveillance underuse, and other cost-effective considerations for HCC surveillance in individuals with NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Cholankeril
- Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Hashem B El-Serag
- Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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36
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Use of a Cirrhosis Admission Order Set Improves Adherence to Quality Metrics and May Decrease Hospital Length of Stay. Am J Gastroenterol 2023; 118:114-120. [PMID: 35971218 DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Quality metrics for inpatient cirrhosis management have been created to improve processes of care. We aimed to improve adherence to quality metrics by creating a novel clinical decision support (CDS) tool in the electronic health record (EHR). METHODS We developed and piloted an alert system in the EHR that directs providers to a cirrhosis order set for patients who have a known diagnosis of cirrhosis or are likely to have cirrhosis. Adherence to process measures and outcomes when the CDS was used were compared with baseline performance before the implementation of the CDS. RESULTS The use of the order set resulted in a significant increase in adherence to process measures such as diagnostic paracentesis (29.6%-51.1%), low-sodium diet (34.3%-77.8%), and social work involvement (36.6%-88.9%) ( P < 0.001 for all). There were also significant decreases in both intensive care and hospital lengths of stay ( P < 0.001) as well as in-hospital development of infection ( P = 0.002). There was no difference in hospital readmissions at 30 or 90 days between the groups ( P = 0.897, P = 0.640). DISCUSSION The use of CDS in EHR-based interventions improves adherence to quality metrics for patients with cirrhosis and could easily be shared by institutions through EHR platforms. Further studies and larger sample sizes are needed to better understand its impact on additional outcome measures.
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37
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Parikh ND, Tayob N, Singal AG. Blood-based biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma screening: Approaching the end of the ultrasound era? J Hepatol 2023; 78:207-216. [PMID: 36089157 PMCID: PMC10229257 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, in part because of inadequate early detection strategies. Current recommendations for screening consist of semi-annual abdominal ultrasound with or without serum alpha-fetoprotein in patients with cirrhosis and in demographic subgroups with chronic hepatitis B infection. However, this screening strategy has several deficiencies, including suboptimal early-stage sensitivity, false positives with subsequent harms, inter-operator variability in ultrasound performance, and poor adherence. A blood-based biomarker with sufficient performance characteristics for early-stage disease could overcome several of these barriers to improving early-stage detection. However, prior to use of a biomarker for screening in clinical practice, a multistep validation is required in order to understand test performance characteristics. These steps include case-control validation, followed by validation in prospective cohorts of at-risk patients. Until recently, we lacked adequate longitudinal validation cohorts for early HCC detection; however, several validation cohorts are maturing, including the Hepatocellular Carcinoma Early Detection Study and the Texas Hepatocellular Carcinoma Consortium, which will allow for rigorous validation of candidate biomarkers. While there are several promising biomarkers awaiting validation, in order to supplant abdominal ultrasound, a candidate biomarker must show adequate test performance and overcome practical hurdles to ensure adoption in clinical practice. The promise of blood-based biomarkers is significant, especially given the limitations of ultrasound-based screening; however, they require adequate validation and several logistical obstacles must be overcome prior to clinical implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neehar D Parikh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Nabihah Tayob
- Department of Biostatistics, Dana Farber Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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38
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Nguyen MH, Roberts LR, Engel-Nitz NM, Bancroft T, Ozbay AB, Singal AG. Gaps in hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in a United States cohort of insured patients with cirrhosis. Curr Med Res Opin 2022; 38:2163-2173. [PMID: 36111416 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2022.2124070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known to be underutilized; however, neither the variation of surveillance adherence by cirrhosis etiology nor the patient-side economic burden of surveillance are well understood. To identify potential barriers to HCC surveillance, we assessed utilization patterns and costs among US patients with cirrhosis monitored in routine clinical practice. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of insured adult patients with cirrhosis using national administrative claims data from January 2013 through June 2019. Time up-to-date with recommended surveillance, correlates of surveillance receipt, and surveillance-associated costs were assessed during a ≥ 6-month follow-up. RESULTS Among 15,543 patients with cirrhosis (mean [SD] age 64.0 [11.1] years, 50.7% male), 45.8% and 58.7% had received any abdominal imaging at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Patients were up-to-date with recommended surveillance for only 31% of a median 1.3-year follow-up. Those with viral hepatitis were more likely to receive surveillance than those with other etiologies (hazard ratio [HR] 1.55, 95% CI 1.11-2.17, p = .010 for patients without a baseline gastroenterologist [GI] visit and 2.69, 95% CI 1.77-4.09, p < .001 for patients with a GI visit, relative to those with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and no GI visit). For all etiologies except NAFLD, the HR (95% CI) for surveillance receipt was higher among patients with vs without a baseline GI visit (alcohol-related, 1.164 [1.002-1.351] vs 0.880 [0.796-0.972]; viral hepatitis, 2.688 [1.765-4.093] vs 1.553 [1.111-2.171]; Other, 0.612 [0.519-0.722] vs 0.549 [0.470-0.641]). Mean total and patient-paid daily surveillance-related costs ranged from $540 and $113, respectively (ultrasound) to $1580 and $300, respectively (magnetic resonance imaging), and mean estimated patient productivity costs were $730-$2514 annually. CONCLUSION HCC surveillance was underutilized and was lowest among patients with nonviral etiologies and those who had not seen a gastroenterologist. Surveillance-related out-of-pocket expenses and lost productivity were substantial. The development of surveillance strategies that reduce patient burden, such as those using blood-based biomarkers, may help improve surveillance adherence and effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mindie H Nguyen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Amit G Singal
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- North American Liver Cancer Consortium
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39
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Singal AG, Reddy S, Radadiya Aka Patel H, Villarreal D, Khan A, Liu Y, Cerda V, Rich NE, Murphy CC, Tiro JA, Kramer JR, Hernaez R. Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial of a Mailed Outreach Strategy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 20:2818-2825.e1. [PMID: 34902568 PMCID: PMC9184300 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2021.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effectiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance is mitigated by underuse in clinical practice, highlighting a need for interventions. We evaluated the effectiveness of mailed HCC surveillance outreach to promote HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis. METHODS We conducted a multicenter pragmatic randomized clinical trial comparing mailed outreach for surveillance ultrasound (n = 1436) and usual care with visit-based surveillance (n = 1436) among patients with cirrhosis at 3 health systems (tertiary care referral center, safety net health system, and Veterans Affairs medical center) from April 2018 to December 2019. The primary outcome of this interim analysis was guideline concordant semiannual HCC surveillance over a 12-month period and a secondary outcome was proportion time covered by surveillance. All patients were included in intention-to-screen analyses. RESULTS Compared with usual care, the outreach arm had significantly higher semiannual surveillance (35.1% vs 21.9%) and lower no-surveillance (29.8% vs 43.5%) (P < .001), resulting in significant increases in the proportion of time covered by surveillance (41.3% vs 31.0%; P < .001). The intervention increased HCC surveillance across most predefined subgroups; however, there were site-level differences in the intervention effect, with significant increases in semiannual surveillance at the Veterans Affairs and safety net health systems but not at the tertiary care referral center. CONCLUSIONS Mailed outreach significantly increased semiannual HCC surveillance vs usual care in patients with cirrhosis, with a consistent intervention effect across most examined subgroups. Continued follow-up is ongoing to determine if these increases in surveillance translate into improved downstream outcomes includi.ng early HCC detection and curative treatment receipt. (ClinicalTrials.gov, Numbers: NCT02582918 and NCT03756051).
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health Hospital System, Dallas, Texas.
| | - Sarah Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health Hospital System, Dallas, Texas
| | - Himani Radadiya Aka Patel
- Department of Population Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health Hospital System, Dallas, Texas
| | - Deyaun Villarreal
- Department of Population Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health Hospital System, Dallas, Texas
| | - Aisha Khan
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Yan Liu
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Vanessa Cerda
- Department of Population Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health Hospital System, Dallas, Texas
| | - Nicole E Rich
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health Hospital System, Dallas, Texas
| | - Caitlin C Murphy
- Department of Population Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health Hospital System, Dallas, Texas
| | - Jasmin A Tiro
- Department of Population Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health Hospital System, Dallas, Texas
| | - Jennifer R Kramer
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas; Department of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Ruben Hernaez
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas; Department of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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40
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Papageorge MV, de Geus SWL, Woods AP, Ng SC, Lee S, McAneny D, Tseng JF, Kenzik KM, Sachs TE. Surveillance Patterns for Hepatocellular Carcinoma among Screening-Eligible Patients in the Medicare Population. Ann Surg Oncol 2022; 29:8424-8431. [PMID: 36057903 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-022-12360-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Routine screening plays a critical role in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but not all patients undergo consistent surveillance. This study aims to evaluate surveillance patterns and their association with diagnosis stage and survival among Medicare patients at risk for HCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with HCC and guideline-based screening eligibility who underwent imaging with ultrasound or abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the 2 years prior to diagnosis were identified from SEER-Medicare (2008-2015). Three surveillance cohorts were created: diagnostic (imaging only within 3 months prior), intermittent (imaging only once within 2 years prior, excluding diagnostic), and routine (at least two imaging encounters within 2 years prior, excluding diagnostic). Multivariable logistic regression was used to predict early-stage diagnosis (stage I-II), and 5-year survival was evaluated using the accelerated failure time method with Weibull distribution. RESULTS Among 2261 eligible patients, 26.1% were classified as diagnostic, 15.8% as intermittent, and 58.1% as routine surveillance. The median age was 74 years (IQR 70-78 years). The majority of patients had a preexisting cirrhosis diagnosis (81.5%). Routine and intermittent, compared with diagnostic, surveillance were predictive of early-stage disease (routine: OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.64-2.56; intermittent: OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.07-1.90). Patients who underwent routine surveillance had significantly lower risk of mortality (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.75-0.94) compared with the diagnostic group. CONCLUSIONS A large proportion of screening-eligible patients do not undergo routine surveillance, which is associated with late-stage diagnosis and higher risk of mortality. These findings demonstrate the impact of timely and consistent healthcare access and can guide interventions for promoting surveillance among these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna V Papageorge
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medical, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Susanna W L de Geus
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medical, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alison P Woods
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medical, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sing Chau Ng
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medical, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - David McAneny
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medical, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer F Tseng
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medical, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kelly M Kenzik
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medical, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Teviah E Sachs
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medical, Boston, MA, USA.
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Singal AG, Chen Y, Sridhar S, Mittal V, Fullington H, Shaik M, Waljee AK, Tiro J. Novel Application of Predictive Modeling: A Tailored Approach to Promoting HCC Surveillance in Patients With Cirrhosis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 20:1795-1802.e2. [PMID: 33662594 PMCID: PMC9048842 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2021.02.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There has been increased interest in interventions to promote hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance given low utilization and high proportions of late stage detection. Accurate prediction of patients likely versus unlikely to respond to interventions could allow a cost-effective approach to outreach and facilitate targeting more intensive interventions to likely non-responders. DESIGN We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial evaluating a mailed outreach strategy to promote HCC surveillance among 1200 cirrhosis patients at a safety-net health system between December 2014 and March 2017. We developed regularized logistic regression (RLR) and gradient boosting machine (GBM) algorithm models to predict surveillance completion during each of the 3 screening rounds in a training set (n = 960). Model performance was assessed using multiple performance metrics in an independent test set (n = 240). RESULTS Among 1200 patients, surveillance was completed in 41-47% of patients over the three rounds. The RLR and GBM models demonstrated good discriminatory accuracy, with area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves of 0.67 and 0.66 respectively in the first surveillance round and improved to 0.77 by the third surveillance round after incorporating prior screening behavior as a feature. Additional performance characteristics including the Brier score, Hosmer-Lemeshow test and reliability diagrams were also evaluated. The most important variables for the predictive model were prior screening completion status and past primary care contact. CONCLUSIONS Predictive models can help stratify patients' likelihood to respond to surveillance outreach invitations, facilitating tailored strategies to maximize effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of HCC surveillance population health programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G. Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health & Hospital, Dallas, Texas,Department of Population Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health & Hospital, Dallas, Texas,Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health & Hospital, Dallas, Texas
| | - Yixing Chen
- Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
| | - Shrihari Sridhar
- Mays Business School, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Vikas Mittal
- Jones Graduate School of Business, Rice University, Houston, Texas
| | - Hannah Fullington
- Department of Population Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health & Hospital, Dallas, Texas
| | - Muzeeb Shaik
- Mays Business School, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Akbar K. Waljee
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan,VA Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan,Michigan Integrated Center for Health Analytics and Medical Prediction (MiCHAMP), Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jasmin Tiro
- Department of Population Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health & Hospital, Dallas, Texas,Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health & Hospital, Dallas, Texas
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42
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Papageorge MV, Woods AP, de Geus SWL, Ng SC, Paasche-Orlow MK, Segev D, McAneny D, Kenzik KM, Sachs TE, Tseng JF. Beyond insurance status: the impact of Medicaid expansion on the diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. HPB (Oxford) 2022; 24:1271-1279. [PMID: 35042672 DOI: 10.1016/j.hpb.2021.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medicaid expansion has led to earlier stage diagnoses in several cancers but has not been studied in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a disease with complex risk factors. We examined the effect of Medicaid expansion on the diagnosis of HCC and associations with county-level social vulnerability. METHODS Patients with HCC <65 years of age were identified from the SEER database (2010-2016). County-level social vulnerability factors were obtained from the CDC SVI and BRFSS. A Difference-in-Difference analysis evaluated change in early-stage diagnoses (stage I-II) between expansion and non-expansion states. A Difference-in-Difference-in-Difference analysis evaluated expansion impact among counties with higher proportions of social vulnerability. RESULTS Of 19,751 patients identified, 81.5% were in expansion states. Uninsured status decreased in expansion states (6.3%-2.4%, p < 0.0001) and remained unchanged in non-expansion states (12.7%-14.8%, p = 0.43). There was no significant difference in the incidence of early-stage diagnoses between expansion states and non-expansion states. Results were consistent when accounting for social vulnerability. CONCLUSION Medicaid expansion was not associated with earlier stage diagnoses in patients with HCC, including those with higher social vulnerability. Unlike other cancers, expanded access did not translate into higher utilization of care in HCC, suggesting barriers on a multitude of levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna V Papageorge
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alison P Woods
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Susanna W L de Geus
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sing Chau Ng
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael K Paasche-Orlow
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dorry Segev
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David McAneny
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kelly M Kenzik
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Teviah E Sachs
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer F Tseng
- Department of Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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Yakovchenko V, Morgan TR, Miech EJ, Neely B, Lamorte C, Gibson S, Beste LA, McCurdy H, Scott D, Gonzalez R, Park A, Powell BJ, Bajaj JS, Dominitz JA, Chartier M, Ross D, Chinman MJ, Rogal SS. Core implementation strategies for improving cirrhosis care in the Veterans Health Administration. Hepatology 2022; 76:404-417. [PMID: 35124820 PMCID: PMC9288973 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides care for more than 80,000 veterans with cirrhosis. This longitudinal, multimethod evaluation of a cirrhosis care quality improvement program aimed to (1) identify implementation strategies associated with evidence-based, guideline-concordant cirrhosis care over time, and (2) use qualitative interviews to operationalize strategies for a manualized intervention. APPROACH AND RESULTS VHA providers were surveyed annually about the use of 73 implementation strategies to improve cirrhosis care in fiscal years 2018 (FY18) and 2019 (FY19). Implementation strategies linked to guideline-concordant cirrhosis care were identified using bivariate statistics and comparative configurational methods. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 facilities in the highest quartile of cirrhosis care to specify the successful implementation strategies and their mechanisms of change. A total of 106 VHA facilities (82%) responded at least once over the 2-year period (FY18, n = 63; FY19, n = 100). Facilities reported using a median of 12 (interquartile range [IQR] 20) implementation strategies in FY18 and 10 (IQR 19) in FY19. Of the 73 strategies, 35 (48%) were positively correlated with provision of evidence-based cirrhosis care. Configurational analysis identified multiple strategy pathways directly linked to more guideline-concordant cirrhosis care. Across both methods, a subset of eight strategies was determined to be core to cirrhosis care improvement and specified using qualitative interviews. CONCLUSIONS In a national cirrhosis care improvement initiative, a multimethod approach identified a core subset of successful implementation strategy combinations. This process of empirically identifying and specifying implementation strategies may be applicable to other implementation challenges in hepatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Yakovchenko
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA
| | - Timothy R. Morgan
- Gastroenterology Section, VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA
| | - Edward J. Miech
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Roudebush VA Medical Center, HSR&D Center for Health Information & Communication, VA PRIS-M QUERI, Indianapolis, IN,Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Brittney Neely
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Carolyn Lamorte
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Sandra Gibson
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA,Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Lauren A. Beste
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA,General Medicine Service, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Dawn Scott
- Department of Medicine, Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Temple, TX
| | - Rachel Gonzalez
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Sierra Pacific Veterans Integrated Service Network, Pharmacy Benefits Management, Mather, CA
| | - Angela Park
- Office of Healthcare Transformation, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC
| | - Byron J. Powell
- Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Jasmohan S. Bajaj
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA,Division of Gastroenterology, Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Richmond, VA
| | - Jason A. Dominitz
- Gastroenterology Section, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Maggie Chartier
- HIV, Hepatitis, and Related Conditions Programs, Office of Specialty Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC
| | - David Ross
- HIV, Hepatitis, and Related Conditions Programs, Office of Specialty Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC
| | - Matthew J. Chinman
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA,RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Shari S. Rogal
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA,Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
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Parikh ND, Tayob N, Al-Jarrah T, Kramer J, Melcher J, Smith D, Marquardt P, Liu PH, Tang R, Kanwal F, Singal AG. Barriers to Surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Multicenter Cohort. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2223504. [PMID: 35867057 PMCID: PMC9308050 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.23504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance is underused in clinical practice, which may be owing to patient and clinician barriers. Objective To characterize HCC surveillance barriers and associations with clinical outcomes in a multicenter cohort of patients with cirrhosis. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included 5 medical centers in the United States. Patients with cirrhosis and newly diagnosed HCC treated from 2014 to 2018 were included. Data were analyzed from June 2021 to February 2022. Exposure Surveillance completion in the 36-month period prior to HCC diagnosis. Main Outcomes and Measures Surveillance receipt was classified as semiannual, annual, or no surveillance. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with semiannual surveillance. We conducted multivariable logistic and Cox regression analyses to characterize associations between surveillance completion with curative treatment and overall survival. Results A total 629 eligible patients (median [IQR] age, 63.6 [56.2-71.0] years; 491 [78.1%] men) were assessed, including 7 American Indian or Alaska Native patients (1.1%), 14 Asian patients (2.2), 176 Black patients (28.0%), 86 Hispanic patients (13.1%), and 340 White patients (54.1%). Nearly two-thirds of the cohort had no surveillance prior to HCC diagnosis (mean [range by site] 63.7% [37.9%-80.4%]), with a mean (range by site) of 14.0% (5.3%-33.3%) of patients having received semiannual surveillance and 22.3% (14.3%-28.8%) of patients having received annual surveillance. The most common reasons for no surveillance were lack of surveillance orders or nonadherence (mean [range by site], 82.4% [66.7%-92.4%], although a mean (range by site) of 17.6% (10.2%-22.1%) of patients had unrecognized cirrhosis at HCC presentation. Semiannual surveillance was associated with hepatitis B infection (odds ratio [OR], 3.06 [95% CI, 1.24-7.23]) and inversely associated with Black race (OR, 0.41 [95% CI, 0.20-0.80]) and lack of cirrhosis recognition (OR, 0.14 [95% CI, 0.02-0.46]). Semiannual HCC surveillance was significantly associated with curative treatment receipt (OR, 2.73 [95% CI, 1.60-4.70]) but not overall survival (HR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.55-1.18]). Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of patients with cirrhosis, HCC surveillance was underused in more than 80% of patients and associated with failures across the screening process. Dedicated programs to improve cirrhosis detection and HCC surveillance attainment are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neehar D. Parikh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Nabihah Tayob
- Department of Biostatistics, Dana Farber Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Taim Al-Jarrah
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Jennifer Kramer
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
- Department of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Jennifer Melcher
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
- Department of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Donna Smith
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
- Department of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Patrick Marquardt
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Po-Hong Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Runlong Tang
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
- Department of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Amit G. Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
- Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
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Melendez-Torres J, Singal AG. Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma: roadmap for improvement. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2022; 22:621-632. [PMID: 35514249 PMCID: PMC9845108 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2022.2074404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor prognosis, related, in part, to frequent late-stage diagnosis. Improved implementation of effective HCC surveillance is critical to reduce HCC mortality. AREAS COVERED We performed a targeted literature review to identify intervention targets for improving HCC surveillance effectiveness, including enriched risk stratification tools, improved surveillance tools with higher accuracy for early HCC detection, and increasing surveillance adherence. EXPERT OPINION HCC surveillance has been demonstrated to be efficacious in several cohort studies but has lower surveillance effectiveness in clinical practice. HCC surveillance is currently recommended in all patients with cirrhosis, and improved risk stratification using clinical risk scores, genetic scores, and novel biomarkers are important to move from a 'one-size-fits-all' strategy to one more aligned with values of precision medicine. Current surveillance modalities, ultrasound, and AFP, miss over one-third of HCC at an early stage and are associated with potential surveillance harms, underscoring a need for alternative surveillance strategies with higher accuracy. MRI- and biomarker-based surveillance strategies have promising early data in phase II studies but require validation in phase III cohorts before routine use in practice. Finally, surveillance is underused in clinical practice, highlighting a need for intervention strategies to increase utilization.
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Asrani SK, Ghabril MS, Kuo A, Merriman RB, Morgan T, Parikh ND, Ovchinsky N, Kanwal F, Volk ML, Ho C, Serper M, Mehta S, Agopian V, Cabrera R, Chernyak V, El-Serag HB, Heimbach J, Ioannou GN, Kaplan D, Marrero J, Mehta N, Singal A, Salem R, Taddei T, Walling AM, Tapper EB. Quality measures in HCC care by the Practice Metrics Committee of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Hepatology 2022; 75:1289-1299. [PMID: 34778999 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The burden of HCC is substantial. To address gaps in HCC care, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Practice Metrics Committee (PMC) aimed to develop a standard set of process-based measures and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) along the HCC care continuum. We identified candidate process and outcomes measures for HCC care based on structured literature review. A 13-member panel with content expertise across the HCC care continuum evaluated candidate measures on importance and performance gap using a modified Delphi approach (two rounds of rating) to define the final set of measures. Candidate PROs based on a structured scoping review were ranked by 74 patients with HCC across 7 diverse institutions. Out of 135 measures, 29 measures made the final set. These covered surveillance (6 measures), diagnosis (6 measures), staging (2 measures), treatment (10 measures), and outcomes (5 measures). Examples included the use of ultrasound (± alpha-fetoprotein [AFP]) every 6 months, need for surveillance in high-risk populations, diagnostic testing for patients with a new AFP elevation, multidisciplinary liver tumor board (MLTB) review of Liver Imaging-Reporting and Data System 4 lesions, standard evaluation at diagnosis, treatment recommendations based on Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging, MLTB discussion of treatment options, appropriate referral for evaluation of liver transplantation candidacy, and role of palliative therapy. PROs include those related to pain, anxiety, fear of treatment, and uncertainty about the best individual treatment and the future. The AASLD PMC has developed a set of explicit quality measures in HCC care to help bridge the gap between guideline recommendations and measurable processes and outcomes. Measurement and subsequent implementation of these metrics could be a central step in the improvement of patient care and outcomes in this high-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marwan S Ghabril
- 12250Division of GastroenterologyDepartment of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Alexander Kuo
- Division of GastroenterologyCedars-Sinai Medical CenterUniversity of California Los AngelesLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Raphael B Merriman
- Division of General and Transplant HepatologyCalifornia Pacific Medical Center and Research InstituteSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Timothy Morgan
- Medicine and Research ServicesVA Long Beach Healthcare SystemLong BeachCaliforniaUSA
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Nadia Ovchinsky
- Division of Pediatric GastroenterologyChildren's Hospital at MontefioreBronxNew YorkUSA
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Section of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartment of MedicineBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTexasUSA
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and SafetyMichael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical CenterHoustonTexasUSA
- Section of Health Services ResearchDepartment of MedicineBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Michael L Volk
- 4608Division of Gastroenterology and Transplantation InstituteLoma Linda UniversityLoma LindaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Chanda Ho
- Department of TransplantationCalifornia Pacific Medical CenterSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Marina Serper
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health EconomicsPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Vatche Agopian
- Division of Liver and Pancreas TransplantationDepartment of SurgeryDavid Geffen School of Medicine at University of CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Roniel Cabrera
- Department of MedicineDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and NutritionUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFloridaUSA
| | | | | | - Julie Heimbach
- Division of Transplant SurgeryWilliam J. von Liebig Transplant CenterMayo ClinicRochesterMinnesotaUSA
| | - George N Ioannou
- Division of GastroenterologyDepartment of MedicineVeterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System and University of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - David Kaplan
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyPerelman University of Pennsylvania School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Jorge Marrero
- Digestive and Liver Diseases DivisionDepartment of Internal MedicineUT Southwestern Medical CenterDallasTexasUSA
| | - Neil Mehta
- Division of GastroenterologyUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Amit Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver DiseasesUT Southwestern Medical CenterDallasTexasUSA
| | - Riad Salem
- Division of Interventional RadiologyDepartment of RadiologyNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Tamar Taddei
- Section of Digestive DiseasesYale School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- VA Connecticut Healthcare SystemWest HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Anne M Walling
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare SystemLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services ResearchUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Elliot B Tapper
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartment of Internal MedicineUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
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Li C, Lu X, Wong CL, Gao F, Chan CW. Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of a Chinese Preventive Health Model instrument for measuring the psychosocial factors in hepatocellular carcinoma screening among patients with hepatitis B. Asian Nurs Res (Korean Soc Nurs Sci) 2022; 16:94-105. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anr.2022.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
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Singal AG, Lok AS, Feng Z, Kanwal F, Parikh ND. Conceptual Model for the Hepatocellular Carcinoma Screening Continuum: Current Status and Research Agenda. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 20:9-18. [PMID: 32961340 PMCID: PMC8287785 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2020.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) continues to have a dismal prognosis, with 5-year survival below 20%. This poor prognosis can be in part attributed to failures along the cancer screening process continuum such as underuse of screening in at risk patients and appropriate treatments for patients with HCC. Better understanding these process failures, and how they compare to those seen in other cancer types, can help inform potential intervention targets and strategies to reduce HCC-related mortality. Herein, we outline a conceptual model with several discrete steps in the HCC screening process continuum including risk assessment, screening initiation, follow-up of screening results, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment evaluation. The conceptual model illustrates how each step in the screening process is prone to delays or failure, resulting in worse outcomes such as late stage diagnosis or poor survival, and how factors at the patient, provider, and health care system levels can contribute to these failures. We compare cancer screening processes for HCC with those employed in breast and colorectal cancer screening to identify opportunities for improvement. The Translational Liver Cancer consortium was recently established by the National Cancer Institute with the goal of improving early detection of HCC. Studies designed to address failures in the HCC screening process continuum will help accomplish this goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
| | - Anna S Lok
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Ziding Feng
- Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Provider Attitudes Toward Risk-Based Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance in Patients With Cirrhosis in the United States. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 20:183-193. [PMID: 32927050 PMCID: PMC8657369 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2020.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance rates are suboptimal in clinical practice. We aimed to elicit providers' opinions on the following aspects of HCC surveillance: preferred strategies, barriers and facilitators, and the impact of a patient's HCC risk on the choice of surveillance modality. METHODS We conducted a web-based survey among gastroenterology and hepatology providers (40% faculty physicians, 21% advanced practice providers, 39% fellow-trainees) from 26 US medical centers in 17 states. RESULTS Of 654 eligible providers, 305 (47%) completed the survey. Nearly all (98.4%) of the providers endorsed semi-annual HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis, with 84.2% recommending ultrasound ± alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and 15.4% recommending computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Barriers to surveillance included limited HCC treatment options, screening test effectiveness to reduce mortality, access to transportation, and high out-of-pocket costs. Facilitators of surveillance included professional society guidelines. Most providers (72.1%) would perform surveillance even if HCC risk was low (≤0.5% per year), while 98.7% would perform surveillance if HCC risk was ≥1% per year. As a patient's HCC risk increased from 1% to 3% to 5% per year, providers reported they would be less likely to order ultrasound ± AFP (83.6% to 68.9% to 57.4%; P < .001) and more likely to order CT or MRI ± AFP (3.9% to 26.2% to 36.1%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Providers recommend HCC surveillance even when HCC risk is much lower than the threshold suggested by professional societies. Many appear receptive to risk-based HCC surveillance strategies that depend on patients' estimated HCC risk, instead of our current "one-size-fits all" strategy.
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Del Poggio P, Mazzoleni M, Lazzaroni S, D'Alessio A. Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma at the community level: Easier said than done. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:6180-6190. [PMID: 34712026 PMCID: PMC8515795 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i37.6180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients with semiannual ultrasound examinations is advocated by all international guidelines. However, as long as the identification of the population to be screened and the surveillance programs are not well implemented, the real-life impact of HCC surveillance in reducing mortality for HCC cannot be known. We propose a new approach that promotes the identification of cirrhotic patients by primary care physicians (PCPs) and referral of patients to the hepatologist for surveillance. Surveillance should be incorporated, when feasible, in a hub and spoke model of comprehensive hepatology care. Training PCPs to identify cirrhotic patients and performing surveillance in a subspecialist setting are equally important to improve the effectiveness of real-life surveillance and to decrease HCC mortality over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Del Poggio
- Unità di Epatologia, Policlinico San Marco Zingonia GSD University and Research Hospital Unità Epatologia, Osio Sotto 24040, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Marzio Mazzoleni
- Primary Care Physician, ASST Bergamo, Osio Sotto 24040, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Sergio Lazzaroni
- Unità di Epatologia, Policlinico San Marco Zingonia GSD University and Research Hospital Unità Epatologia, Osio Sotto 24040, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Andrea D'Alessio
- Department of Medicine, Policlinico San Marco Zingonia, GSD University and Research Hospital, Osio Sotto 24040, Bergamo, Italy
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