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Shaltiel T, Sarpel U, Branch AD. The adverse characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma in the non-cirrhotic liver disproportionately disadvantage Black patients. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e6654. [PMID: 38230878 PMCID: PMC10905547 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6654] [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: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Black patients have higher hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-related mortality than White patients and more often develop HCC in non-cirrhotic liver. HCC surveillance is primarily directed toward cirrhotic patients. We aimed to characterize HCC in non-cirrhotic patients and to identify factors associated with HCC beyond Milan criteria. METHODS Demographic, imaging, laboratory, and pathology data of HCC patients at our institution, 2003-2018, were reviewed, retrospectively. Race/ethnicity were self-reported. Cirrhosis was defined as a Fibrosis-4 score ≥3.25. RESULTS Compared to 1146 cirrhotic patients, 411 non-cirrhotic patients had larger tumors (median 4.7 cm vs. 3.1 cm, p < 0.01) and were less likely to be within Milan criteria (42.6% vs. 57.7%, p < 0.01). Among non-cirrhotic patients, Black patients had larger tumors (4.9 cm vs. 4.3 cm, p < 0.01) and a higher percentage of poorly differentiated tumors (39.4% vs. 23.1%, p = 0.02). Among cirrhotic patients, Black patients had larger tumors (3.3 cm vs. 3.0 cm, p = 0.03) and were less likely to be within Milan criteria (52.3% vs. 83.2%, p < 0.01). In multivariable analysis, lack of commercial insurance (OR 1.45 [CI 95% 1.19-1.83], p < 0.01), male sex (OR 1.34 [CI 95% 1.05-1.70], p < 0.01), absence of cirrhosis (OR 1.58 [CI 95% 1.27-1.98], p < 0.01) and Black race/ethnicity (OR 1.34 [CI 95% 1.09-1.66], p = 0.01) were associated with HCC beyond Milan criteria. Black patients had lower survival rates than other patients (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Non-cirrhotic patients had more advanced HCC than cirrhotic patients. Black patients (with or without cirrhosis) had more advanced HCC than comparable non-Black patients and higher mortality rates. Improved access to healthcare (commercial insurance) may increase early diagnosis (within Milan criteria) and reduce disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tali Shaltiel
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of SurgeryIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Umut Sarpel
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of SurgeryIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Andrea D. Branch
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of MedicineIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
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Lima HA, Endo Y, Moazzam Z, Alaimo L, Dillhoff M, Kim A, Beane J, Ejaz A, Cloyd J, Resende V, Pawlik TM. The Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma Care. Ann Surg Oncol 2023; 30:4589-4599. [PMID: 37142835 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-023-13562-9] [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] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The impact of Medicaid expansion (ME) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial, and heterogeneous effects on care processes may relate to sociodemographic factors. We sought to evaluate the association between ME and receipt of surgery in early-stage HCC. METHODS Patients diagnosed with early-stage HCC between 40 and 64 years of age were identified from the National Cancer Database and divided into pre- (2004-2012) and post- (2015-2017) expansion cohorts. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of surgical treatment. Difference-in-difference (DID) analysis assessed changes in surgical treatment between patients living in ME and non-ME states. RESULTS Among 19,745 patients, 12,220 (61.9%) were diagnosed before ME and 7525 (38.1%) after. Although overall utilization of surgery decreased after expansion (ME, pre-expansion: 62.2% versus post-expansion: 51.6%; non-ME, pre-expansion: 62.1% versus post-expansion: 50.8%, p < 0.001), this trend varied relative to insurance status. Notably, receipt of surgery increased among uninsured/Medicaid patients living in ME states after expansion (pre-expansion: 48.1%, post-expansion: 52.3%, p < 0.001). Moreover, treatment at academic or high-volume facilities increased the likelihood of undergoing surgery before expansion. After expansion, treatment at an academic facility and living in an ME state (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07-1.54, p < 0.01) were predictors of surgical treatment. DID analysis demonstrated increased utilization of surgery for uninsured/Medicaid patients living in ME states relative to non-ME states (uninsured/Medicaid: 6.4%, p < 0.05), although no differences were noted among patients with other insurance statuses (overall: 0.7%, private: -2.0%, other: 0.3%, all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Implementation of ME heterogeneously impacted utilization of care in early-stage HCC. Notably, uninsured/Medicaid patients residing in ME states demonstrated increased utilization of surgical treatment after expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique A Lima
- Department of Surgery, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- Federal University of Minas Gerais School of Medicine, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Yutaka Endo
- Department of Surgery, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Zorays Moazzam
- Department of Surgery, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Laura Alaimo
- Department of Surgery, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mary Dillhoff
- Department of Surgery, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Alex Kim
- Department of Surgery, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Joal Beane
- Department of Surgery, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Aslam Ejaz
- Department of Surgery, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jordan Cloyd
- Department of Surgery, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Vivian Resende
- Federal University of Minas Gerais School of Medicine, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Noverati N, Bashir-Hamidu R, Halegoua-DeMarzio D, Hann HW. Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Chronic Stress. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073917. [PMID: 35409275 PMCID: PMC8999024 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The Hepatitis B virus is one of the most significant hepatocarcinogens globally. The carcinogenic mechanisms of this virus are complex, and may include interactions with the host’s immune system. Certain factors, such as stress on the body, can also potentiate these mechanisms. Stress, although adaptive in an acute form, is deleterious to health when chronic and can both suppress and activate the host’s defense system. In hepatocellular carcinoma, this can lead to tumor initiation and progression. Those that are more prone to stress, or exposed to situations that incite stress, may be at higher risk of developing cancer. Racial disparities, for example, are a source of chronic psychosocial stress in America and predispose minorities to poorer outcomes. As it remains perplexing why some individuals with chronic hepatitis B develop feared complications while others do not, it is important to recognize as many risk factors as possible, including those often overlooked such as chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Noverati
- Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (N.N.); (R.B.-H.); (D.H.-D.)
| | - Rukaiya Bashir-Hamidu
- Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (N.N.); (R.B.-H.); (D.H.-D.)
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Dina Halegoua-DeMarzio
- Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (N.N.); (R.B.-H.); (D.H.-D.)
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Hie-Won Hann
- Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (N.N.); (R.B.-H.); (D.H.-D.)
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
- Correspondence:
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