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Stokes SM, Haider M, Vadaparampil ST, Levitt C, Hardy O, Kim R, Castillo DL, Denbo J, Fleming JB, Anaya DA. Patient's informational needs and outreach preferences: A cross-sectional survey study in patients with hepatobiliary malignancies. PEC INNOVATION 2024; 4:100248. [PMID: 38292078 PMCID: PMC10825679 DOI: 10.1016/j.pecinn.2023.100248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Objective Hepatobiliary tumors have evolving management guidelines. Patient educational needs and interest in community engagement are unknown. This study serves as a needs assessment. Methods A prospective, needs assessment, survey study of hepatobiliary patients was performed (2016-2019). Surveys (n = 169) were distributed covering three domains of interest: informational needs, interest in outreach, and engagement preferences. Results Seventy patients completed the survey (response rate = 41.4%). Most patients had completed surgical treatment (84.3%). Cancer treatment was ranked as their primary topic of interest (n = 39, 55.7bold%), followed by symptom management, nutrition, and survivorship. Most patients did not participate in screening (n = 57, 81.4%), though were interested in learning more about these programs. Thirty-nine patients (55.7%) stated they would want to receive more education. Only 17 (24.3%) were interested in attending in-person events. Patients preferred online methods for education (n = 49, 70%). While patients were aware of their case presentation at tumor board, only 38 (54.3%) felt well-informed about recommendations. Conclusion Multidisciplinary care is complex and difficult for patients to navigate. Most patients have interest in educational resources and prefer online modalities. Patients understand multidisciplinary tumor boards, but communication could be improved. Innovation These data inform a new, innovative, approach to outreach efforts in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M. Stokes
- Department of GI Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
| | - Mintallah Haider
- Department of GI Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
| | - Susan T. Vadaparampil
- Office of Community Outreach Engagement & Equity, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
| | - Catherine Levitt
- Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 560 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
| | - Olivia Hardy
- Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 560 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
| | - Richard Kim
- Department of GI Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
| | - Diana L. Castillo
- Department of GI Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
| | - Jason Denbo
- Department of GI Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
| | - Jason B. Fleming
- Department of GI Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
| | - Daniel A. Anaya
- Department of GI Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
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Feng GH, Zhao KH, Wang YF, Yue QQ, Chen YS, Huang LL, Meng XR, Peng T, Zeng Y. mhealth-based interventions to improving liver cancer screening among high-risk populations: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:2501. [PMID: 39272004 PMCID: PMC11401418 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-20025-7] [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: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver cancer (LC) screening, such as AFP test and abdominal ultrasound, is an effective way to prevent LC, one of the most common cancers worldwide. Despite the proven screening benefits, screening participation among high-risk populations for LC remains low. This suggests that targeted, systematic, and effective interventions should be provided to improve knowledge and awareness related to LC screening, enhance screening intentions, and thereby promote screening behaviors. Telephone is people's main medium of daily communication and mHealth-based programs offer a potential and effective solution for promoting health behaviors. The purpose of this study is to develop and implement a mHealth (WeChat app) based intervention guided by Fogg's Behavior Model (FBM) to augment the knowledge of LC prevention among people at risk of LC and enhance their motivation for screening, and to validate its effectiveness in improving LC screening. METHODS We propose a two-arm, single-blind randomized controlled trial with 82 at-risk individuals of LC, delivering a 6-month mHealth-based intervention program with optional health counseling. Recruitment will be through tertiary hospitals and community organizations in 4 districts in Heng Yang. In total, 82 individuals at high risk for HCC will be randomized 1:1 to intervention or control (usual care) groups. The intervention group will receive intervention, whose contents are based on the FBM model, via multiple forms of media including PowerPoint presentation, multimedia video, health information booklet and screening message, which is delivered in the WeChat Applet. Control dyads will be provided with usual health education. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention. DISCUSSION The findings of this study will provide evidence of the benefits of utilizing mHealth-based approaches in intervention development to enhance the effectiveness of screening adherence for high-risk people of LC. Further, the findings would provide reference to the potential incorporation of the targeted intervention in local community organizations. TRIAL REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2400080530) Date registered: 31/1/2024.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge-Hui Feng
- Department of International and Humanistic Nursing, Hunan Science Popularization Education Base, School of Nursing, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Ke-Hao Zhao
- Department of International and Humanistic Nursing, Hunan Science Popularization Education Base, School of Nursing, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yi-Fei Wang
- Department of International and Humanistic Nursing, Hunan Science Popularization Education Base, School of Nursing, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Qian-Qian Yue
- Department of International and Humanistic Nursing, Hunan Science Popularization Education Base, School of Nursing, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yun-Shan Chen
- Department of International and Humanistic Nursing, Hunan Science Popularization Education Base, School of Nursing, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Li-Li Huang
- Department of International and Humanistic Nursing, Hunan Science Popularization Education Base, School of Nursing, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Xin-Ru Meng
- Department of International and Humanistic Nursing, Hunan Science Popularization Education Base, School of Nursing, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Tong Peng
- Department of International and Humanistic Nursing, Hunan Science Popularization Education Base, School of Nursing, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Ying Zeng
- Department of International and Humanistic Nursing, Hunan Science Popularization Education Base, School of Nursing, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.
- Hunan Engineering Research Center for Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Cancer Research Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Cellular & Molecular Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.
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Radu IP. Is mailed outreach and patient navigation a perfect solution to improve HCC screening? Gut 2024:gutjnl-2024-332920. [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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4
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Qurashi M, von Wagner C, Sharma R. Optimising Surveillance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Patient-Defined Obstacles and Solutions. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:1597-1605. [PMID: 39193064 PMCID: PMC11348922 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s462303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Six-monthly ultrasound surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is recommended in patients with cirrhosis. Surveillance enhances early detection and improves survival. Yet, despite clear benefits, uptake remains low. We aim to identify and explore ways to overcome patient-related barriers to HCC surveillance with the aim of producing invitations for surveillance. Methods Using the COM-B model of behaviour and a co-design process, we collaborated with patients, liver health charities and advocacy groups, to identify patient-related barriers to attending HCC surveillance. We performed qualitative thematic analysis of co-production workshops on HCC surveillance to develop information leaflets and surveillance invitations. Results Twenty-eight participants attended five workshops. Fear of a serious diagnosis and stigma from healthcare professionals were highlighted as main patient-related barriers to attending surveillance appointments. Co-design was used to develop informative, user-friendly, non-judgemental invitations and information regarding HCC surveillance relevant to populations with cirrhosis. Conclusion We identified potential patient barriers to surveillance uptake and developed patient facing material that directly addressed these barriers to be trialled in the clinic. Targeting patient-specific barriers may increase uptake of surveillance and therefore enhance early diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Qurashi
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Christian von Wagner
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rohini Sharma
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Stylianos SL, Goel CR, Lee RM, Yopp A, Kronenfeld J, Goel N, Datta J, Lee A, Silberfein E, Russell MC. Comparing barriers to early stage diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma between safety net hospitals and academic medical centers: An analysis from the United States Safety-Net Collaborative. J Surg Oncol 2024. [PMID: 39087490 DOI: 10.1002/jso.27787] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with improved survival. However, a greater proportion of patients treated at safety net hospitals (SNHs) present with late-stage disease compared to those at academic medical centers (AMCs). This study aims to identify barriers to diagnosis of HCC, highlighting differences between SNHs and AMCs. METHODS The US Safety Net Collaborative-HCC database was queried. Patients were stratified by facility of diagnosis (SNH or AMC). Patient demographics and HCC screening rates were examined. The primary outcome was stage at diagnosis (AJCC I/II-"early"; AJCC III/IV-"late"). RESULTS 1290 patients were included; 50.2% diagnosed at SNHs and 49.8% at AMCs. At SNHs, 44.4% of patients were diagnosed late, compared to 27.6% at AMCs. On multivariable regression, Black race was associated with late diagnosis in both facilities (SNH: odds ratio 1.96, p = 0.03; AMC: 2.27, <0.01). Screening was associated with decreased odds of late diagnosis (SNH: 0.46, p = 0.04; AMC: 0.37, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Black race was associated with late diagnosis of HCC, while screening was associated with early diagnosis across institutional types. These results suggest socially constructed racial bias in screening and diagnosis of HCC. Screening efforts targeting SNH patients and Black patients at all facilities are essential to reduce disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia L Stylianos
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Caroline R Goel
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Rachel M Lee
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Adam Yopp
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Joshua Kronenfeld
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Miami Medical School, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Neha Goel
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Miami Medical School, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jashodeep Datta
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Miami Medical School, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Ann Lee
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, New York University Medical School, New York, New York, USA
| | - Eric Silberfein
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Maria C Russell
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Bui H, Kumar NG, Singal AG, Boparai J, Mukhtar NA, Tran D, Saxena V, Balasubramanian S. Implementation of a Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Program in a Community-Based Integrated Health System in Patients With Hepatitis C Cirrhosis. Am J Gastroenterol 2024; 119:1506-1514. [PMID: 38334275 DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002704] [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] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Underutilization of hepatocellular cancer (HCC) surveillance has been reported, although data evaluating interventions to improve surveillance are sparse. We assessed the effect of a population-based HCC surveillance program on HCC surveillance utilization and outcomes. METHODS In this retrospective cohort study, we assessed preinclusion and postinclusion HCC surveillance patterns among 597 patients with hepatitis C virus cirrhosis enrolled in a program at an integrated health system between 2013 and 2020. Adequate surveillance was defined as at least 5 surveillance studies within 36 months pre-enrollment and postenrollment; a secondary outcome was proportion of time covered by surveillance over 36 months. Tumor size, stage, and receipt of curative therapy were compared between HCC detected on the first imaging examination (prevalent HCC) and surveillance-detected HCC (incident HCC). We performed Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariable competing risk analysis to characterize the association between surveillance and mortality. RESULTS The surveillance program significantly improved surveillance completion (77.6% vs 5.0%, P < 0.001) and proportion time covered (80.9% vs 15.8%, P < 0.001). Compared with prevalent HCC, surveillance-detected cases were more likely unifocal (77.8% vs 44.8%, P < 0.001), early-stage (85.2% vs 44.8%, P < 0.001), with smaller maximum diameter (median 2.3 vs 3.2 cm), and more likely to undergo curative therapy (92.5% vs 72.4% P = 0.010). Survival was improved compared with prevalent cases hazard ratio (HR) 0.23 (0.11-0.51) after adjusting for age and Model for End Stage Liver Disease score. DISCUSSION Implementation of a population-based program resulted in significant improvement in HCC surveillance use and clinical outcomes among patients with hepatitis C virus cirrhosis. These findings may inform similar interventions by other healthcare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hien Bui
- Pharmacology, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, California, USA
| | - Nikhilesh G Kumar
- Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, California, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Texas, USA
| | - Jasdeep Boparai
- Hospital Based Service, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, California, USA
| | - Nizar A Mukhtar
- Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, California, USA
| | - Don Tran
- Pharmacology, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, California, USA
| | - Varun Saxena
- Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, University of California at San Francisco, California, USA
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Cumming J, Scott N, Howell J, Flores JE, Pavlyshyn D, Hellard ME, Winata LSH, Ryan M, Sutherland T, Thompson AJ, Doyle JS, Sacks-Davis R. Improving Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Outcomes in Patients with Cirrhosis after Hepatitis C Cure: A Modelling Study. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2745. [PMID: 39123472 PMCID: PMC11312194 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16152745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a significant global health challenge, particularly among individuals with liver cirrhosis, with hepatitis C (HCV) a major cause. In people with HCV-related cirrhosis, an increased risk of HCC remains after cure. HCC surveillance with six monthly ultrasounds has been shown to improve survival. However, adherence to biannual screening is currently suboptimal. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of increased HCC surveillance uptake and improved ultrasound sensitivity on mortality among people with HCV-related cirrhosis post HCV cure. METHODS This study utilized mathematical modelling to assess HCC progression, surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment among individuals with cirrhosis who had successfully been treated for HCV. The deterministic compartmental model incorporated Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages to simulate disease progression and diagnosis probabilities in 100 people with cirrhosis who had successfully been treated for hepatitis C over 10 years. Four interventions were modelled to assess their potential for improving life expectancy: realistic improvements to surveillance adherence, optimistic improvements to surveillance adherence, diagnosis sensitivity enhancements, and improved treatment efficacy Results: Realistic adherence improvements resulted in 9.8 (95% CI 7.9, 11.6) life years gained per cohort of 100 over a 10-year intervention period; 17.2 (13.9, 20.3) life years were achieved in optimistic adherence improvements. Diagnosis sensitivity improvements led to a 7.0 (3.6, 13.8) year gain in life years, and treatment improvements improved life years by 9.0 (7.5, 10.3) years. CONCLUSIONS Regular HCC ultrasound surveillance remains crucial to reduce mortality among people with cured hepatitis C and cirrhosis. Our study highlights that even minor enhancements to adherence to ultrasound surveillance can significantly boost life expectancy across populations more effectively than strategies that increase surveillance sensitivity or treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Cumming
- Disease Elimination Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia (J.S.D.); (R.S.-D.)
- Population Health and Immunity, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Nick Scott
- Disease Elimination Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia (J.S.D.); (R.S.-D.)
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Jessica Howell
- Disease Elimination Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia (J.S.D.); (R.S.-D.)
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Joan Ericka Flores
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia
| | - Damian Pavlyshyn
- Disease Elimination Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia (J.S.D.); (R.S.-D.)
| | - Margaret E. Hellard
- Disease Elimination Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia (J.S.D.); (R.S.-D.)
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred and Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
- Doherty Institute and School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Leon Shin-han Winata
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia
| | - Marno Ryan
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia
| | - Tom Sutherland
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Alexander J. Thompson
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Joseph S. Doyle
- Disease Elimination Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia (J.S.D.); (R.S.-D.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred and Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Rachel Sacks-Davis
- Disease Elimination Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia (J.S.D.); (R.S.-D.)
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
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Vithayathil M, Qurashi M, Vicente PR, Alsafi A, Naik M, Graham A, Khan S, Lewis H, Dhar A, Smith B, Selvapatt N, Manousou P, Possamai L, Izadi H, Lim A, Tait P, Sharma R. Prospective Study of Non-Contrast, Abbreviated MRI for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance in Patients with Suboptimal Hepatic Visualisation on Ultrasound. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2709. [PMID: 39123437 PMCID: PMC11312001 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16152709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biannual ultrasound (US) is recommended for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in patients with cirrhosis. However, US has limited sensitivity for early-stage HCC, particularly in overweight cohorts, where hepatic visualisation is often inadequate. Currently there are no robust imaging surveillance strategies in patients with inadequate US visualisation. We investigated the ability of non-contrast, abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging (aMRI) to adequately visualise the liver for HCC surveillance in patients with previously inadequate US. METHODS Patients undergoing US surveillance, where liver visualisation was inadequate (LI-RADS VIS-B and VIS-C), were prospectively recruited. Patients underwent non-contrast T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted aMRI. The images were reviewed and reported by an expert liver radiologist. Three independent, blinded radiologists assessed the aMRI visualisation quality using a binary score assessing five parameters (parenchymal definition, vascular definition, coverage of the liver, uniformity of liver appearance and signal-to-noise ratio). RESULTS Thirty patients completed the aMRI protocol. The majority (90%) had underlying cirrhosis and were overweight (93.3%), with 50% obese and 20% severely obese. A total of 93.3% of the aMRI scans were of satisfactory quality. Six patients (20%) had hepatic abnormalities detected with aMRI that were not seen on their US: one HCC, one haemangioma and three clinically insignificant lesions. For the aMRI visualisation quality assessment, the coverage of the liver, vascular definition and parenchymal definition were consistently rated to be of sufficient quality by all three radiologists. CONCLUSIONS Non-contrast aMRI provided good visualisation of the liver and detection of abnormalities in patients with inadequate US. aMRI should be further explored in a larger, prospective study as an alternative surveillance strategy in patients with inadequate US.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathew Vithayathil
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK; (M.V.)
| | - Maria Qurashi
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK; (M.V.)
| | | | - Ali Alsafi
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0HS, UK
| | - Mitesh Naik
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0HS, UK;
| | - Alison Graham
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0HS, UK
| | - Shahid Khan
- Department of Hepatology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0HS, UK (A.D.); (N.S.)
| | - Heather Lewis
- Department of Hepatology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0HS, UK (A.D.); (N.S.)
| | - Ameet Dhar
- Department of Hepatology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0HS, UK (A.D.); (N.S.)
| | - Belinda Smith
- Department of Hepatology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0HS, UK (A.D.); (N.S.)
| | - Nowlan Selvapatt
- Department of Hepatology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0HS, UK (A.D.); (N.S.)
| | - Pinelopi Manousou
- Department of Hepatology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0HS, UK (A.D.); (N.S.)
| | - Lucia Possamai
- Department of Hepatology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0HS, UK (A.D.); (N.S.)
| | - Hooshang Izadi
- School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Adrian Lim
- Department of Radiology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0HS, UK
| | - Paul Tait
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0HS, UK
| | - Rohini Sharma
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK; (M.V.)
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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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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:gutjnl-2024-332508. [PMID: 38839269 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2024-332508] [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: 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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11
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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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12
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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: 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: 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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13
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Giannini EG. Proper assessment and prognostication of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken) 2024; 23:e0129. [PMID: 38455237 PMCID: PMC10919536 DOI: 10.1097/cld.0000000000000129] [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: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo G. Giannini
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Digestive Diseases Section, Liver Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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14
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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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15
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Davis JP, Rabiee A. Improving access to screening and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken) 2024; 23:e0219. [PMID: 38841196 PMCID: PMC11152816 DOI: 10.1097/cld.0000000000000219] [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: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
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16
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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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17
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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: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 79.0] [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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18
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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: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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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Wang MC, Bangaru S, Zhou K. Care for Vulnerable Populations with Chronic Liver Disease: A Safety-Net Perspective. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2725. [PMID: 37893800 PMCID: PMC10606794 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11202725] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Safety-net hospitals (SNHs) and facilities are the cornerstone of healthcare services for the medically underserved. The burden of chronic liver disease-including end-stage manifestations of cirrhosis and liver cancer-is high and rising among populations living in poverty who primarily seek and receive care in safety-net settings. For many reasons related to social determinants of health, these individuals often present with delayed diagnoses and disease presentations, resulting in higher liver-related mortality. With recent state-based policy changes such as Medicaid expansion that impact access to insurance and critical health services, an overview of the body of literature on SNH care for chronic liver disease is timely and informative for the liver disease community. In this narrative review, we discuss controversies in the definition of a SNH and summarize the known disparities in the cascade of the care and management of common liver-related conditions: (1) steatotic liver disease, (2) liver cancer, (3) chronic viral hepatitis, and (4) cirrhosis and liver transplantation. In addition, we review the specific impact of Medicaid expansion on safety-net systems and liver disease outcomes and highlight effective provider- and system-level interventions. Lastly, we address remaining gaps and challenges to optimizing care for vulnerable populations with chronic liver disease in safety-net settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Wang
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Saroja Bangaru
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Los Angeles General Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Kali Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Los Angeles General Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Research Center for Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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20
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Kim K, Lee HW, Ahn SH. How can we improve surveillance system for alcohol-associated hepatocellular carcinoma? J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 38:1203-1204. [PMID: 37646235 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.16334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kunhee Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye Won Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Yonsei Liver Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sang Hoon Ahn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Yonsei Liver Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea
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21
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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: 5.0] [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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22
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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: 3.0] [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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23
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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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24
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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: 4.0] [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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25
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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: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [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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26
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Su KK, Zheng XH, Bréchot C, Zheng XP, Zhu DH, Huang R, Zhang YH, Tao JJ, Lou YJ, Li LJ. Five-lipoxygenase-activating protein-mediated CYLD attenuation is a candidate driver in hepatic malignant lesion. Front Oncol 2022; 12:912881. [PMID: 35978827 PMCID: PMC9376481 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.912881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an inflammation-associated cancer. However, the lipid pro-inflammatory mediators have only been seldom investigated in HCC pathogenesis. Cylindromatosis (CYLD) attenuation is involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. Here, we aimed to evaluate the significance of hepatic lipid pro-inflammatory metabolites of arachidonate-affected CYLD expression via the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway. Resection liver tissues from HCC patients or donors were evaluated for the correlation of 5-LO/cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) signaling to the expression of CYLD. The impact of functional components in 5-LO/CysLTs cascade on survival of HCC patients was subsequently assessed. Both livers from canines, a preponderant animal for cancer research, and genetic-modified human HCC cells treated with hepatocarcinogen aristolochic acid I (AAI) were further used to reveal the possible relevance between 5-LO pathway activation and CYLD suppression. Five-LO-activating protein (FLAP), an essential partner of 5-LO, was significantly overexpressed and was parallel to CYLD depression, CD34 neovascular localization, and high Ki-67 expression in the resection tissues from HCC patients. Importantly, high hepatic FLAP transcription markedly shortened the median survival time of HCC patients after surgical resection. In the livers of AAI-treated canines, FLAP overexpression was parallel to enhanced CysLTs contents and the simultaneous attenuation of CYLD. Moreover, knock-in FLAP significantly diminished the expression of CYLD in AAI-treated human HCC cells. In summary, the hepatic FLAP/CysLTs axis is a crucial suppressor of CYLD in HCC pathogenesis, which highlights a novel mechanism in hepatocarcinogenesis and progression. FLAP therefore can be explored for the early HCC detection and a target of anti-HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun-kai Su
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xue-hua Zheng
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Pharmacology, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | | | - Xiao-ping Zheng
- Department of Pathology, Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dan-hua Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Rong Huang
- Department of Pathology, Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yan-hong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jing-jing Tao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi-jia Lou
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lan-juan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Lan-juan Li,
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27
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Kim NJ, Issaka RB. How safety-net health systems can advance equity in gastroenterology and hepatology. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 7:695-697. [PMID: 35809599 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(22)00196-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel B Issaka
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
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28
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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: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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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29
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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: 0.5] [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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30
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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: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [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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31
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Perumalswami PV, Wyatt B, Bowman CA, Patel K, Mageras A, Lewis SC, Branch AD. Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance, incidence, and tumor doubling times in patients cured of hepatitis C. Cancer Med 2022; 11:1995-2005. [PMID: 35261196 PMCID: PMC9089228 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence and mortality vary by race/ethnicity and both are higher in Black patients than in Whites. For HCC surveillance, all cirrhotic patients are advised to undergo lifelong twice‐annual abdominal imaging. We investigated factors associated with surveillance and HCC incidence in a diverse HCC risk group, cirrhotic patients recently cured of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Methods In this observational cohort study, all participants (n = 357) had advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis and were cured of HCV with antiviral treatment. None had Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI‐RADS) 2–5 lesions prior to HCV cure. Ultrasound, computed tomography, and/or magnetic resonance imaging were used for surveillance. Results At a median follow‐up of 40 months [interquartile range (IQR) = 28–48], the median percentage of time up‐to‐date with surveillance was 49% (IQR) = 30%–71%. The likelihood of receiving a first surveillance examination was not significantly associated with race/ethnicity, but was higher for patients with more advanced cirrhosis, for example, bilirubin [odds ratio (OR) = 3.8/mg/dL, p = 0.002], private insurance (OR = 3.4, p = 0.006), and women (OR = 2.3, p = 0.008). The likelihood of receiving two or three examinations was significantly lower for non‐Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics versus non‐Hispanic Whites (OR = 0.39, and OR = 0.40, respectively, p < 0.005 for both) and for patients with higher platelet counts (OR = 0.99/10,000 cells/µl, p = 0.01), but higher for patients with private insurance (OR = 2.8, p < 0.001). Incident HCC was associated with higher bilirubin (OR = 1.7, p = 0.02) and lower lymphocyte counts (OR = 0.16, p = 0.01). Conclusions Contrary to best practices, HCC surveillance was associated with sociodemographic factors (insurance status and race/ethnicity) among patients cured of HCV. Guideline‐concordant surveillance is needed to address healthcare disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ponni V Perumalswami
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Brooke Wyatt
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Chip A Bowman
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Krupa Patel
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anna Mageras
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sara C Lewis
- Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrea D Branch
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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32
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Rich NE, Singal AG. Overdiagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: Prevented by guidelines? Hepatology 2022; 75:740-753. [PMID: 34923659 PMCID: PMC8844206 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Overdiagnosis refers to detection of disease that would not otherwise become clinically apparent during a patient's lifetime. Overdiagnosis is common and has been reported for several cancer types, although there are few studies describing its prevalence in HCC surveillance programs. Overdiagnosis can have serious negative consequences including overtreatment and associated complications, financial toxicity, and psychological harms related to being labeled with a cancer diagnosis. Overdiagnosis can occur for several different reasons including inaccurate diagnostic criteria, detection of premalignant or very early malignant lesions, detection of indolent tumors, and competing risks of mortality. The risk of overdiagnosis is partly mitigated, albeit not eliminated, by several guideline recommendations, including definitions for the at-risk population in whom surveillance should be performed, surveillance modalities, surveillance interval, recall procedures, and HCC diagnostic criteria. Continued research is needed to further characterize the burden and trends of overdiagnosis as well as identify strategies to reduce overdiagnosis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E Rich
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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Hernaez R, Kramer JR, Khan A, Phillips J, McCallister K, Chaffin K, Hernandez AP, Fullington H, Ortiz C, Blackwell JM, Loewen A, Liu Y, Tiro JA, Lee SC, Singal AG. Depression and Anxiety Are Common Among Patients With Cirrhosis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 20:194-203.e1. [PMID: 32835845 PMCID: PMC8210475 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2020.08.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Depression and anxiety can have negative effects on patients and are important to treat. There have been few studies of their prevalence among patients with cirrhosis. We aimed to characterize the prevalence and risk factors for depression and anxiety in a large multi-center cohort of patients with cirrhosis. METHODS We conducted a telephone-based survey of patients with cirrhosis at 3 health systems in the United States (a tertiary-care referral center, a safety net system, and a Veterans hospital) from April through December 2018. Of 2871 patients approached, 1021 (35.6%) completed the survey. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the PHQ-9 (range 0-25) and STAI (range 20-80) instruments, with clinically significant values defined as PHQ-9 ≥15 and STAI ≥40. We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with significant depression and anxiety. RESULTS The median PHQ-9 score was 7 (25th percentile-75th percentile, 3-12) and the median STAI score was 33 (25th percentile-75th percentile, 23-47); 15.6% of patients had moderately severe to severe depression and 42.6% of patients had high anxiety. In multivariable analyses, self-reported poor health (odds ratio [OR], 4.08; 95% CI, 1.79-9.28), being widowed (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.07-4.05), fear of hepatocellular carcinoma (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.04-3.42), higher household income (OR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.10-0.95), and Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.33-0.97) were associated with moderately severe to severe depression. Male sex (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.51-0.98), self-reported poor health (OR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.73-4.32), and fear of hepatocellular carcinoma (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.33-3.78) were associated with high anxiety. CONCLUSIONS Nearly 1 in 6 patients with cirrhosis have moderately severe to severe depression and nearly half have moderate-severe anxiety. Patients with cirrhosis should be evaluated for both of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Hernaez
- Section of Gastroenterology, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas; Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas; Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
| | - Jennifer R Kramer
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas; Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Section of Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Aisha Khan
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas; Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Jessica Phillips
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Katharine McCallister
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Kassie Chaffin
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Adriana Portela Hernandez
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Hannah Fullington
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Cynthia Ortiz
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | | | - Adam Loewen
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Yan Liu
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas; Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Section of Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Jasmin A Tiro
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Simon C Lee
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
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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: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [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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An J. [Current Status and Future Directions of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Test Based on Cost-effective Analysis]. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY 2021; 78:255-260. [PMID: 34824183 DOI: 10.4166/kjg.2021.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at an early stage enables patients to receive curative treatment with survival gains. Current international liver society guidelines recommend the enrollment of patients at high risk for HCC in surveillance programs. In Korea, surveillance for HCC advocated for patients with chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, and liver cirrhosis. The established surveillance tool for HCC is liver ultrasonography plus serum alpha-fetoprotein measurement every 6 months. However, there would be obstacles to the improvement of efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the HCC surveillance test. Assessing who is at risk of developing HCC remains incompletely validated. Also, which surveillance tools to use according to patients' characteristics are controversial. The present paper reviews the latest knowledge regarding the strategies and cost-effectiveness of HCC surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihyun An
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, Korea
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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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Tapper EB, Parikh ND. The Future of Quality Improvement for Cirrhosis. Liver Transpl 2021; 27:1479-1489. [PMID: 33887806 PMCID: PMC8487907 DOI: 10.1002/lt.26079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Cirrhosis has a significant and growing impact on public health and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The increasing burden of cirrhosis has led to an emphasis on the quality of care with the goal of improving overall outcomes in this high-risk population. Existing evidence has shown the significant gaps in quality across process measures (eg, hepatocellular carcinoma screening), highlighting the need for consistent measurement and interventions to address the gaps in quality care. This multistep process forms the quality continuum, and it depends on clearly defined process measures, real-time quality measurement, and generalizable evaluative methods. Herein we review the current state of quality care in cirrhosis across the continuum with a focus on process measurement methodologies, developments in PRO evaluation on quality assessment, practical examples of quality improvement initiatives, and the recent emphasis placed on the value of primary prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliot B Tapper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI
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Singal AG, Patibandla S, Obi J, Fullington H, Parikh ND, Yopp AC, Marrero JA. Benefits and Harms of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance in a Prospective Cohort of Patients With Cirrhosis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 19:1925-1932.e1. [PMID: 32920214 PMCID: PMC7943645 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2020.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The value of a cancer screening programs is defined by its balance of benefits and harms; however, there are few data evaluating both attributes for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance. We aimed to characterize benefits and harms of HCC surveillance in a large prospective cohort of patients with cirrhosis. METHODS We conducted a secondary analysis of a clinical trial evaluating HCC surveillance among patients with cirrhosis at a safety-net health system enrolled between December 2014 and July 2015. We quantified surveillance-related benefits, defined as early HCC detection and curative treatment receipt, and physical harms, defined as diagnostic procedures for false positive or indeterminate results, over an 18-month period. RESULTS Of 614 cirrhosis patients with ≥1 surveillance exam, abnormal results were observed in 118 (19.2%) patients. Twenty-six patients developed HCC during follow-up, of whom 16 (61.5%) were detected by surveillance. The proportion of HCC detected at BCLC stage 0/A (62.5% vs 50%, p = .69) and who underwent curative treatment (43.8% vs. 40.0%, p = 1.0) did not significantly differ between surveillance-detected patients and those diagnosed incidentally/symptomatically. Physical harms were observed in 54 (8.8%) patients who underwent surveillance - most of mild severity with only 1 diagnostic CT or MRI and none undergoing invasive testing such as biopsy. Incidental findings on follow-up imaging were found in 40 (6.5%) patients -23 of low clinical importance and 17 medium clinical importance. CONCLUSIONS In our cohort of patients with cirrhosis, HCC surveillance was associated with high early tumor detection and minimal physical harms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G. Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health Hospital System, Dallas, TX,Department of Population Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Sruthi Patibandla
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health Hospital System, Dallas, TX
| | - Joseph Obi
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health Hospital System, Dallas, TX
| | - Hannah Fullington
- Department of Population Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Neehar D. Parikh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
| | - Adam C. Yopp
- Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Jorge A. Marrero
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health Hospital System, Dallas, TX,Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
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Marquardt P, Liu PH, Immergluck J, Olivares J, Arroyo A, Rich NE, Parikh ND, Yopp AC, Singal AG. Hepatocellular Carcinoma Screening Process Failures in Patients with Cirrhosis. Hepatol Commun 2021; 5:1481-1489. [PMID: 34510836 PMCID: PMC8435280 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Professional society guidelines recommend semiannual screening for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis; however, studies suggest underuse of screening in clinical practice. Our study's aim was to characterize reasons for HCC screening underuse among patients with cirrhosis. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with cirrhosis diagnosed with HCC in two large health systems from 2011 to 2019. We classified screening receipt as consistent, inconsistent, or no screening in the year before HCC diagnosis. We categorized reasons for screening underuse as a potential failure at each of the following steps required for HCC screening: receipt of regular outpatient care, recognition of liver disease, recognition of cirrhosis, screening orders in patients with cirrhosis, and adherence to screening ultrasound appointments. Among 1,014 patients with cirrhosis with HCC, only 377 (37.2%) had regular outpatient care in the year before HCC presentation. Consistent screening was observed in 93 (24.7%) patients under regular outpatient care, whereas 161 (42.7%) had inconsistent screening and 123 (32.6%) no screening. We found screening underuse related to failures at each step in the screening process, although nearly half (49.6%) were due to lack of screening orders in patients with known cirrhosis. Conclusion: The most common reasons for HCC screening underuse in patients with cirrhosis are lack of regular outpatient care and lack of screening orders in those with known cirrhosis, highlighting the need for interventions targeted at these steps to increase HCC screening use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Marquardt
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health and Hospital SystemDallasTXUSA
| | - Po-Hong Liu
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health and Hospital SystemDallasTXUSA
| | - Joshua Immergluck
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health and Hospital SystemDallasTXUSA
| | - Jocelyn Olivares
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health and Hospital SystemDallasTXUSA
| | - Ana Arroyo
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health and Hospital SystemDallasTXUSA
| | - Nicole E Rich
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health and Hospital SystemDallasTXUSA
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMIUSA
| | - Adam C Yopp
- Department of SurgeryUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health and Hospital SystemDallasTXUSA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health and Hospital SystemDallasTXUSA
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Sachar Y, Brahmania M, Dhanasekaran R, Congly SE. Screening for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Hepatitis B. Viruses 2021; 13:1318. [PMID: 34372524 PMCID: PMC8310362 DOI: 10.3390/v13071318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is a significant risk factor for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As HCC is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, screening patients with CHB at a high risk for HCC is recommended in an attempt to improve these outcomes. However, the screening recommendations on who to screen and how often are not uniform. Identifying patients at the highest risk of HCC would allow for the best use of health resources. In this review, we evaluate the literature on screening patients with CHB for HCC, strategies for optimizing adherence to screening, and potential risk stratification tools to identify patients with CHB at a high risk of developing HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashasavi Sachar
- London Health Sciences Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Western University, London, ON N6A 5A5, Canada; (Y.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Mayur Brahmania
- London Health Sciences Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Western University, London, ON N6A 5A5, Canada; (Y.S.); (M.B.)
- Centre for Quality, Innovation and Safety, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5W9, Canada
| | - Renumathy Dhanasekaran
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
| | - Stephen E. Congly
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
- O’Brien Institute of Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
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Singal AG, Tiro JA, Murphy CC, Blackwell JM, Kramer JR, Khan A, Liu Y, Zhang S, Phillips JL, Hernaez R. Patient-Reported Barriers Are Associated With Receipt of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance in a Multicenter Cohort of Patients With Cirrhosis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 19:987-995.e1. [PMID: 32629122 PMCID: PMC7779689 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2020.06.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND More than 20% of patients with cirrhosis do not receive semi-annual hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance as recommended. Few studies have evaluated the effects of patient-level factors on surveillance receipt. METHODS We administered a telephone survey to a large cohort of patients with cirrhosis from 3 health systems (a tertiary care referral center, a safety-net health system, and Veterans Affairs) to characterize patient knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers of HCC surveillance. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with HCC surveillance receipt (semi-annual and annual vs none) during the 12-month period preceding survey administration. RESULTS Of 2871 patients approached, 1020 (35.5%) completed the survey. Patients had high levels of concern about developing HCC and high levels of knowledge about HCC. However, patients had knowledge deficits, including believing surveillance was unnecessary when physical examination and laboratory results were normal. Nearly half of patients reported barriers to surveillance, including costs (28.9%), difficulty scheduling (24.1%), and transportation (17.8%). In the year before the survey, 745 patients (73.1%) received 1 or more surveillance examination; 281 received on-schedule, semi-annual surveillance and 464 received annual surveillance. Semi-annual HCC surveillance (vs none) was significantly associated with receipt of hepatology subspecialty care (odds ratio, 30.1; 95% CI, 17.5-51.8) and inversely associated with patient-reported barriers (odds ratio, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.41-0.94). Patterns of associations comparing annual vs no surveillance were similar although the magnitude of effects were reduced. CONCLUSIONS Patient-reported barriers such as knowledge deficits, costs, difficulty scheduling, and transportation are significantly associated with less frequent receipt of HCC surveillance, indicating a need for patient-centered interventions, such as patient navigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health Hospital System, Dallas, Texas; Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas; Department of Clinical Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
| | - Jasmin A Tiro
- Department of Clinical Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Caitlin C Murphy
- Department of Clinical Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | | | - Jennifer R Kramer
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, 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
| | - Song Zhang
- Department of Clinical Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Jessica L Phillips
- Department of Clinical Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Ruben Hernaez
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas; Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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Bartnik K, Podgórska J, Rosiak G, Korzeniowski K, Giziński J, Sajdek M, Wróblewski T, Zieniewicz K, Nyckowski P, Rowiński O. Performance of initial LI-RADS 2018 treatment response in predicting survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following TACE: a retrospective, single-center cohort study. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2021; 147:3673-3683. [PMID: 33778924 PMCID: PMC8557150 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-021-03603-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Treatment response following transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is frequently evaluated with Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System Treatment Response (LR-TR) algorithm, but its association with patients’ outcomes is not supported in the literature. The purpose of this study was to provide such data. Methods A retrospective analysis of 99 TACE patients with stage A/B hepatocellular carcinoma according to Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer staging system was performed. Two radiologists assessed LR-TR, while a third radiologist re-assessed divergent results. Overall survival (OS) and time to disease progression (TTP) were the primary endpoints of the study, while the Cox proportional hazard model was used for outcome analyses. Results Interobserver agreement was substantial between the two readers with κ = 0.69 (95% CI 0.58–0.81). The median OS in viable, equivocal, and non-viable groups were 27, 27, and 73 months, respectively (p < 0.001). However, after adjustment for confounding factors, there was no significant association between initial viable response and OS (HR 0.98 [95% CI 0.37–2.63], p = 0.97), while equivocal response remained statistically significant (HR 3.52. [95% CI 1.27–9.71], p = 0.015). No significant association was noted when viable and equivocal groups were analyzed in aggregate (HR 1.03 [95% CI 0.4–2.4], p = 0.96). The median TTP did not differ between non-viable and viable groups (23 vs 18 months, respectively; p = 0.98). None of the analyzed predictors was associated with TTP. Conclusion Initial LR-TR response was not an independent predictor for OS nor TTP. The preliminary results suggest the necessity for more aggressive management of equivocal patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Bartnik
- Doctoral School, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Second Department of Radiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Ul. Banacha 1a, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Podgórska
- Second Department of Radiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Ul. Banacha 1a, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Grzegorz Rosiak
- Second Department of Radiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Ul. Banacha 1a, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Korzeniowski
- Second Department of Radiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Ul. Banacha 1a, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jakub Giziński
- Second Department of Radiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Ul. Banacha 1a, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Sajdek
- Second Department of Radiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Ul. Banacha 1a, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tadeusz Wróblewski
- Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Zieniewicz
- Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paweł Nyckowski
- Department of General, Gastroenterological and Oncological Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Olgierd Rowiński
- Second Department of Radiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Ul. Banacha 1a, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
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Wu H, Wang MD, Liang L, Xing H, Zhang CW, Shen F, Huang DS, Yang T. Nanotechnology for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Surveillance, Diagnosis to Management. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2005236. [PMID: 33448111 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202005236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. However, the clinical diagnosis and treatment modalities are still relatively limited, which urgently require the development of new effective technologies. Recently, nanotechnology has gained extensive attention in HCC surveillance, imaging and pathological diagnosis, and therapeutic strategies. Typically, nanomedicines have been focused on early HCC diagnosis and precise treatment of advanced HCC, which has developed and improved a variety of new technologies and agents for future clinical practice. Furthermore, strategies of facilitating drug release and delivery in current treatment processes such as ablation, systematic therapy, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, molecular targeted therapy, and immune-modulating therapy have also been studied widely. This review summarizes the recent advances in this area according to current clinical HCC guidelines: 1) Nanoparticle-based HCC surveillance; 2) Nanotechnology for HCC diagnosis; 3) Therapeutic advances for HCC Management; 4) Limitations of applications in nanotechnology for HCC; 5) Conclusions and perspectives. Although there are still many limitations and difficulties to overcome, the investigations of nanomedicines are believed to show potential applications in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, 310014, China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Ming-Da Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Lei Liang
- The Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, 310014, China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic and Minimal Invasive Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Hao Xing
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Cheng-Wu Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic and Minimal Invasive Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Feng Shen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Dong-Sheng Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, 310014, China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Tian Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, 310014, China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic and Minimal Invasive Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
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44
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Wolf E, Rich NE, Marrero JA, Parikh ND, Singal AG. Use of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance in Patients With Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Hepatology 2021; 73:713-725. [PMID: 32383272 PMCID: PMC7648722 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance is associated with early tumor detection and improved survival; however, it is often underused in clinical practice. We aimed to characterize surveillance use among patients with cirrhosis and the efficacy of interventions to increase surveillance. APPROACH AND RESULTS We performed a systematic literature review using the MEDLINE database from January 2010 through August 2018 to identify cohort studies evaluating HCC surveillance receipt or interventions to increase surveillance in patients with cirrhosis. A pooled estimate for surveillance receipt with 95% confidence intervals was calculated. Correlates of surveillance use were defined from each study and prespecified subgroup analyses. Twenty-nine studies, with a total of 118,799 patients, met inclusion criteria, with a pooled estimate for surveillance use of 24.0% (95% confidence interval, 18.4-30.1). In subgroup analyses, the highest surveillance receipt was reported in studies with patients enrolled from subspecialty gastroenterology/hepatology clinics and lowest in studies characterizing surveillance in population-based cohorts (73.7% versus 8.8%, P < 0.001). Commonly reported correlates of surveillance included higher receipt among patients followed by subspecialists and lower receipt among those with alcohol-associated or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related cirrhosis. All eight studies (n = 5,229) evaluating interventions including patient/provider education, inreach (e.g., reminder and recall systems), and population health outreach strategies reported significant increases (range 9.4%-63.6%) in surveillance receipt. CONCLUSIONS HCC surveillance remains underused in clinical practice, particularly among patients with alcohol-associated or NASH-related cirrhosis and those not followed in subspecialty gastroenterology clinics. Interventions such as provider education, inreach including reminder systems, and population health outreach efforts can significantly increase HCC surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Wolf
- Department of Internal MedicineUT Southwestern Medical CenterDallasTXUSA
| | - Nicole E Rich
- Department of Internal MedicineUT Southwestern Medical CenterDallasTXUSA
| | - Jorge A Marrero
- Department of Internal MedicineUT Southwestern Medical CenterDallasTXUSA
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMIUSA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal MedicineUT Southwestern Medical CenterDallasTXUSA
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Does Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Increase Survival in At-Risk Populations? Patient Selection, Biomarkers, and Barriers. Dig Dis Sci 2020; 65:3456-3462. [PMID: 32860090 PMCID: PMC7669568 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-020-06550-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly morbid and prevalent cancer globally. While high quality evidence for mortality benefit of HCC surveillance is lacking, early detection of HCC is likely beneficial as prognosis is highly correlated with tumor stage. High risk populations, including patients with cirrhosis and subgroups with Hepatitis B, should undergo surveillance with ultrasound ± alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) at 6-month intervals. In addition, emerging data suggest that patients with Hepatitis C cirrhosis who achieve sustained virologic response should continue surveillance. Further research is needed to determine the value of surveillance in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the absence of cirrhosis or with advanced fibrosis of other etiologies. Newer biomarkers and models such as Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP, des-γ-carboxy prothrombin, and the GALAD score are increasingly utilized in the diagnosis and prognostication of HCC. The role of these biomarkers in surveillance is still under investigation but may potentially offer a more practical alternative to traditional image-based surveillance. Despite recommendations from multiple professional society guidelines, many at-risk patients do not receive HCC surveillance due to barriers at the patient, clinician, and health care system levels. Strategies such as implementing patient navigation services, educating clinicians about surveillance guidelines, and creating automated outreach systems, may improve surveillance rates and ultimately reduce morbidity and mortality from HCC.
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46
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Ferrante ND, Pillai A, Singal AG. Update on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y) 2020; 16:506-516. [PMID: 34017223 PMCID: PMC8132669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide and the fastest-rising cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Given the strong association between tumor stage and prognosis, HCC surveillance is recommended in high-risk patients, including patients with cirrhosis from any etiology. The diagnosis can be made based on characteristic imaging findings, with histologic confirmation primarily reserved for patients with atypical imaging findings. Over the last 2 decades, the treatment landscape for HCC has experienced significant advances. Curative therapies, including liver transplantation and surgical resection, are available to patients with early-stage HCC; however, recent data have expanded the potentially eligible patient population. Locoregional therapies, including transarterial chemoembolization and transarterial radio-embolization, continue to be standard therapies for patients with intermediate-stage disease. The greatest advances have been observed for patients with advanced HCC, where there are now multiple first- and second-line options that can prolong survival by up to 2 years when used sequentially. The increasing complexity of HCC treatment options underlies the necessity for multidisciplinary care, which has been associated with increased survival. This article reviews data on best practices for early detection and diagnosis of HCC and the current status of treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole D. Ferrante
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics; Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Center for Pharmacoepidemiology Research and Training; Perelman School of Medicine; University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia; Pennsylvania
| | - Anjana Pillai
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Amit G. Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
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47
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Osho A, Rich NE, Singal AG. Role of imaging in management of hepatocellular carcinoma: surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment response. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 6. [PMID: 32944652 PMCID: PMC7494212 DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2020.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Imaging plays a notable role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment response assessment. Whereas HCC surveillance among at-risk patients, including those with cirrhosis, has traditionally been ultrasound-based, there are increasing data showing that this strategy is operator-dependent and has insufficient sensitivity when used alone. Several novel blood-based and imaging modalities are currently being evaluated to increase sensitivity for early HCC detection. Multi-phase computed tomography (CT) or contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should be performed in patients with positive surveillance tests to confirm a diagnosis of HCC and perform cancer staging, as needed. HCC is a unique cancer in that most cases can be diagnosed radiographically without histological confirmation when demonstrating characteristic features such as arterial phase hyperenhancement and delayed phase washout. The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System offers a standardized nomenclature for reporting CT or MRI liver findings among at-risk patients. Finally, cross-sectional imaging plays a critical role for assessing response to any HCC therapy as well as monitoring for HCC recurrence in those who achieve complete response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azeez Osho
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-8887, USA
| | - Nicole E Rich
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-8887, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-8887, USA
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48
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Onyirioha K, Mittal S, G Singal A. Is hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in high-risk populations effective? Hepat Oncol 2020; 7:HEP25. [PMID: 32774835 PMCID: PMC7399579 DOI: 10.2217/hep-2020-0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Several professional societies recommend hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in high-risk patients including patients with cirrhosis from any etiology and subsets of noncirrhotic chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The efficacy of HCC surveillance to increase early detection and improve survival has been demonstrated in a large randomized controlled trial among hepatitis B virus patients and several cohort studies among those with cirrhosis. However, the effectiveness on HCC surveillance, when applied in clinical practice, is lower due to low utilization of HCC surveillance among at-risk patients, poorer test performance given operator dependency and differences in patient characteristics, and downstream process failures such as treatment delays. Interventions to increase surveillance utilization and improve surveillance test performance should improve surveillance effectiveness in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristeen Onyirioha
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Sukul Mittal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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49
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Higashi RT, Jain MK, Quirk L, Rich NE, Waljee AK, Turner BJ, Lee SC, Singal AG. Patient and provider-level barriers to hepatitis C screening and linkage to care: A mixed-methods evaluation. J Viral Hepat 2020; 27:680-689. [PMID: 32048397 PMCID: PMC7299760 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Achieving practice change can be challenging when guidelines shift from a selective risk-based strategy to a broader population health strategy, as occurred for hepatitis C (HCV) screening (2012-2013). We aimed to evaluate patient and provider barriers that contributed to suboptimal HCV screening and linkage-to-care rates after implementation of an intervention to improve HCV screening and linkage-to-care processes in a large, public integrated healthcare system following the guidelines change. As part of a mixed-methods study, we collected data through patient surveys (n = 159), focus groups (n = 9) and structured observation of providers and staff (n = 9). We used these findings to then inform domains for the second phase, which consisted of semi-structured interviews with patients across the screening-treatment continuum (n = 24) and providers and staff at primary care and hepatology clinics (n = 21). We transcribed and thematically analysed interviews using an integrated inductive and deductive framework. We identified lack of clarity about treatment cost, treatment complications and likelihood of cure as ongoing patient-level barriers to screening and linkage to care. Provider-level barriers included scepticism about establishing HCV screening as a quality metric given competing clinical priorities, particularly for patients with multiple comorbidities. However, most felt positively about adding HCV as a quality metric to enhance HCV screening and linkage to care. Provider engagement yielded suggestions for process improvements that resulted in increased stakeholder buy-in and real-time enhancements to the HCV screening process intervention. Systematic data collection at baseline and during practice change implementation may facilitate adoption and adaptation to improve HCV screening guideline implementation. Findings identified several key opportunities and lessons to enhance the impact of practice change interventions to improve HCV screening and treatment delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin T. Higashi
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9066,Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2201 Inwood Rd., Dallas TX 75390
| | - Mamta K. Jain
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2201 Inwood Rd., Dallas TX 75390,Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5939 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9124,Parkland Health and Hospital System, 5201 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Lisa Quirk
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9066
| | - Nicole E. Rich
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5939 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9124,Parkland Health and Hospital System, 5201 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Akbar K. Waljee
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 3110 Taubman Center, SPC 5368, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5368,VA Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, 2215 Fuller Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105,Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,Michigan Integrated Center for Health Analytics and Medical Prediction (MiCHAMP) 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Barbara J. Turner
- Department of Family & Community Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX 78229,ReACH: Center for Research to Advance Community Health, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7411 John Smith Rd., Suite 1050, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Simon Craddock Lee
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9066,Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2201 Inwood Rd., Dallas TX 75390
| | - Amit G. Singal
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2201 Inwood Rd., Dallas TX 75390,Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5939 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9124,Parkland Health and Hospital System, 5201 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75235
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50
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Aby ES, Winters AC, Lin J, Bui A, Kawamoto J, Goetz MB, Bhattacharya D, Pisegna JR, May FP, Patel AA, Benhammou JN. A Telephone and Mail Outreach Program Successfully Increases Uptake of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance. Hepatol Commun 2020; 4:825-833. [PMID: 32490319 PMCID: PMC7262281 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer‐related death worldwide. Society guidelines recommend surveillance with abdominal ultrasound with or without serum alpha‐fetoprotein every 6 months for adults at increased risk of developing HCC. However, adherence is often suboptimal. We assessed the feasibility of a coordinated telephone outreach program for unscreened patients with cirrhosis within the Veteran’s Affairs (VA) health care system. Using a patient care dashboard of advanced chronic liver disease in the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, we identified veterans with a diagnosis of cirrhosis, a platelet count ≤ 150,000/uL, and no documented HCC surveillance in the previous 8 months. Eligible veterans received a telephone call from a patient navigator to describe the risks and benefits of HCC surveillance. Orders for an abdominal ultrasound and alpha‐fetoprotein were placed for veterans who agreed to surveillance. Veterans who were not reached by telephone received an informational letter by mail to encourage participation. Of the 129 veterans who met the eligibility criteria, most were male (96.9%). The most common etiology for cirrhosis was hepatitis C (64.3%), and most of the patients had compensated cirrhosis (68.2%). The patient navigators reached 32.5% of patients by phone. Patients in each group were similar across clinical and demographic characteristics. Patients who were called were more likely to undergo surveillance (adjusted odds ratio = 2.56, 95% confidence interval: 1.03‐6.33). Most of the patients (72.1%) completed abdominal imaging when reached by phone. Conclusion: Targeted outreach increased uptake of HCC surveillance among patients with cirrhosis in a large, integrated, VA health care system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth S Aby
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA
| | - Adam C Winters
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA
| | - Jonathan Lin
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA
| | - Aileen Bui
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA
| | - Jenna Kawamoto
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Parenteral Nutrition VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Los Angeles CA
| | - Matthew B Goetz
- Division of Infectious Diseases VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Los Angeles CA.,David Geffen School of Medicine University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA
| | - Debika Bhattacharya
- Division of Infectious Diseases VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Los Angeles CA.,Division of Infectious Diseases Department of Medicine David Geffen School of Medicine University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA
| | - Joseph R Pisegna
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Parenteral Nutrition VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Los Angeles CA
| | - Folasade P May
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA.,Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Parenteral Nutrition VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Los Angeles CA
| | - Arpan A Patel
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA.,Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Parenteral Nutrition VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Los Angeles CA
| | - Jihane N Benhammou
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA.,Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Parenteral Nutrition VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Los Angeles CA
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