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Macdonald JK, Clift CL, Saunders J, Zambrzycki SC, Mehta AS, Drake RR, Angel PM. Differential Protease Specificity by Collagenase as a Novel Approach to Serum Proteomics That Includes Identification of Extracellular Matrix Proteins without Enrichment. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2024; 35:487-497. [PMID: 38329320 PMCID: PMC10921462 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.3c00366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Circulating extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are serological biomarkers of interest due to their association with pathologies involving disease processes such as fibrosis and cancers. In this study, we investigate the potential for serum biomarker research using differential protease specificity (DPS), leveraging alternate protease specificity as a targeting mechanism to selectively digest circulating ECM protein serum proteins. A proof-of-concept study is presented using serum from patients with cirrhotic liver or hepatocellular carcinoma. The approach uses collagenase DPS for digestion of deglycosylated serum and liquid-chromatography-trapped ion mobility-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-TIMS-MS/MS) to enhance the detection of ECM proteins in serum. It requires no sample enrichment and minimizes the albumin average precursor intensity readout to less than 1.2%. We further demonstrate the capabilities for using the method as a high-throughput matrix-assisted laser/desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) assay coupled with reference library searching. A goal is to improve the depth and breadth of biofluid proteomics for noninvasive assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade K. Macdonald
- Department of Cell and Molecular
Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, United States
| | | | | | - Stephen C. Zambrzycki
- Department of Cell and Molecular
Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, United States
| | - Anand S. Mehta
- Department of Cell and Molecular
Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, United States
| | - Richard R. Drake
- Department of Cell and Molecular
Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, United States
| | - Peggi M. Angel
- Department of Cell and Molecular
Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, United States
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2
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Reddy KR, McLerran D, Marsh T, Parikh N, Roberts LR, Schwartz M, Nguyen MH, Befeler A, Page-Lester S, Tang R, Srivastava S, Rinaudo JA, Feng Z, Marrero JA. Incidence and Risk Factors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cirrhosis: The Multicenter Hepatocellular Carcinoma Early Detection Strategy (HEDS) Study. Gastroenterology 2023; 165:1053-1063.e6. [PMID: 37429366 PMCID: PMC10529044 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.06.027] [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: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy. We aimed to prospectively determine the incidence and risk factors of HCC in a U.S. COHORT METHODS The multicenter Hepatocellular Carcinoma Early Detection Strategy study of the National Institutes of Health prospectively enrolled patients with cirrhosis who underwent standard surveillance for HCC. Demographics, medical and family history, etiology of liver disease, and clinical features were evaluated for associations with HCC. RESULTS Between April 10, 2013 and December 31, 2021, 1723 patients were enrolled and confirmed eligible. During median follow-up of 2.2 years (range, 0-8.7 years), there were 109 incident cases of HCC for an incidence rate of 2.4 per 100 person-years: 88 (81%) patients with very early/early Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage (0, A), 20 (18%) intermediate stage (B), and 1 (1%) unknown stage. Risk factor analyses were restricted to 1325 patients, including 95 incident HCC, with at least 6 months of follow-up. The majority were men (53.2%), obese or severely obese (median body mass index, 30.2 kg/m2), and white (86.3%); 42.0% had history of hepatitis C virus infection, 20.7% had alcoholic liver disease, and 24.9% had nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Fourteen risk factors for HCC were significant (P < .05) in univariate analyses, and a multivariate subset was selected using stepwise logistic regression. The multivariate subset contained gender (P < .001; male; odds ratio [OR], 2.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.54-4.07), years with cirrhosis (P = .004; OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.1), family history of liver cancer (P = .02; yes; OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.11-5.86), age (per 5 years; P = .02; OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.03-1.33), obesity (P = .02; yes; OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.08-2.73), aspartate aminotransferase (log(1+AST); P = .06; OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 0.97-2.42), alpha-fetoprotein (log(1+AFP); P = .07; OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 0.97-1.77), and albumin (P = .10; OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.46-1.07). CONCLUSIONS Thus far, this is the largest prospective and geographically diverse study of a U.S. cohort of patients with cirrhosis that validates known risk factors for HCC (gender, age, obesity, years with cirrhosis, family history of liver cancer, baseline AFP, albumin, and AST). The incidence of HCC was 2.4% per 100 person-years.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dale McLerran
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Tracey Marsh
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Runlong Tang
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | | | | | - Ziding Feng
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
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El-Serag HB, Ward JW, Asrani SK, Singal AG, Rich N, Thrift AP, Deshpande S, Turner BJ, Kaseb AO, Harrison AC, Fortune BE, Kanwal F. Prevention of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). White Paper of the Texas Collaborative Center for Hepatocellular Cancer (TeCH) Multi-stakeholder Conference. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 21:2183-2192. [PMID: 37086825 PMCID: PMC10524305 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2023.03.029] [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: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Texas has the highest age-adjusted incidence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States. The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas has funded the Texas Collaborative Center for Hepatocellular Cancer (TeCH) to facilitate HCC research, education, and advocacy activities with the overall goal of reducing HCC mortality in Texas through coordination, collaboration, and advocacy. METHODS On September 17, 2022, TeCH co-sponsored a multi-stakeholder conference on HCC with the Baker Institute Center for Health and Biosciences. This conference was attended by HCC researchers, policy makers, payers, members from pharmaceutical industry and patient advocacy groups in and outside of Texas. This report summarizes the results of the conference. RESULTS The goal of this meeting was to identify different strategies for preventing HCC and evaluate their readiness for implementation. CONCLUSIONS We call for a statewide (1) viral hepatitis elimination program; (2) program to increase nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and obesity awareness; (3) research program to develop health care models that integrate alcohol associated liver disease treatment and treatment for alcohol use disorder; and (4) demonstration projects to evaluate the effectiveness of identifying and linking patient with advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis to clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John W Ward
- The Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia
| | | | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Texas
| | - Nicole Rich
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, Texas
| | - Aaron P Thrift
- Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Barbara J Turner
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ahmed O Kaseb
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Ariel C Harrison
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Brett E Fortune
- Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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4
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Yu J, Park R, Kim R. Promising Novel Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Diagnostic and Prognostic Insights. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:1105-1127. [PMID: 37483311 PMCID: PMC10362916 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s341195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The systemic therapy landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma is rapidly evolving, as the recent approvals of checkpoint inhibitor-based regimens such as atezolizumab-bevacizumab and durvalumab-tremelimumab in advanced disease have led to an expanding therapeutic armamentarium. The development of biomarkers, however, has not kept up with the approvals of new agents. Nevertheless, biomarker research for hepatocellular carcinoma has recently been growing at a rapid pace. The most active areas of research are biomarkers for early detection and screening, accurate prognostication, and detection of minimal residual disease following curative intent therapies, and, perhaps most importantly, predictive markers to guide selection and sequencing of the individual agents, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy. In this review, we briefly summarize the recent developments in systemic therapeutics for hepatocellular carcinoma, introduce the key completed and ongoing prospective and retrospective studies evaluating diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers with high clinical relevance, highlight several potentially important areas of future research, and share our insights for each biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Yu
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Robin Park
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Richard Kim
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
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Singal AG, Sanduzzi-Zamparelli M, Nahon P, Ronot M, Hoshida Y, Rich N, Reig M, Vilgrain V, Marrero J, Llovet JM, Parikh ND, Villanueva A. International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) white paper on hepatocellular carcinoma risk stratification and surveillance. J Hepatol 2023; 79:226-239. [PMID: 36854345 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Major research efforts in liver cancer have been devoted to increasing the efficacy and effectiveness of surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As with other cancers, surveillance programmes aim to detect tumours at an early stage, facilitate curative-intent treatment, and reduce cancer-related mortality. HCC surveillance is supported by a large randomised-controlled trial in patients with chronic HBV infection and several cohort studies in cirrhosis; however, effectiveness in clinical practice is limited by several barriers, including inadequate risk stratification, underuse of surveillance, and suboptimal accuracy of screening tests. There are several proposed strategies to address these limitations, including risk stratification algorithms and biomarkers to better identity at-risk individuals, interventions to increase surveillance, and emerging imaging- and blood-based surveillance tests with improved sensitivity and specificity for early HCC detection. Beyond clinical validation, data are needed to establish clinical utility, i.e. increased early tumour detection and reduced HCC-related mortality. If successful, these data could facilitate a precision screening paradigm in which surveillance strategies are tailored to individual HCC risk to maximise overall surveillance value. However, practical and logistical considerations must be considered when designing and implementing these validation efforts. To address these issues, ILCA (the International Liver Cancer Association) adjourned a single topic workshop on HCC risk stratification and surveillance in June 2022. Herein, we present a white paper on these topics, including the status of the field, ongoing research efforts, and barriers to the translation of emerging strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Marco Sanduzzi-Zamparelli
- BCLC Group, Liver Oncology Unit, Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions, Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), CIBERehd, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pierre Nahon
- APHP, Liver Unit, Bobigny, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, F-93000 Bobigny, France; Inserm, UMR-1138 "Functional Genomics of Solid Tumors", Centre de recherche des Cordeliers, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Maxime Ronot
- Université Paris Cité, CRI INSERM UMR 1149, Paris & Department of radiology, Hôpital Beaujon, APHP. Nord, Clichy, France
| | - Yujin Hoshida
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Nicole Rich
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Maria Reig
- BCLC Group, Liver Oncology Unit, Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions, Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), CIBERehd, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valerie Vilgrain
- Université Paris Cité, CRI INSERM UMR 1149, Paris & Department of radiology, Hôpital Beaujon, APHP. Nord, Clichy, France
| | - Jorge Marrero
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Josep M Llovet
- Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Translational Research in Hepatic Oncology, Liver Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Augusto Villanueva
- Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Lee YT, Fujiwara N, Yang JD, Hoshida Y. Risk stratification and early detection biomarkers for precision HCC screening. Hepatology 2023; 78:319-362. [PMID: 36082510 PMCID: PMC9995677 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mortality remains high primarily due to late diagnosis as a consequence of failed early detection. Professional societies recommend semi-annual HCC screening in at-risk patients with chronic liver disease to increase the likelihood of curative treatment receipt and improve survival. However, recent dynamic shift of HCC etiologies from viral to metabolic liver diseases has significantly increased the potential target population for the screening, whereas annual incidence rate has become substantially lower. Thus, with the contemporary HCC etiologies, the traditional screening approach might not be practical and cost-effective. HCC screening consists of (i) definition of rational at-risk population, and subsequent (ii) repeated application of early detection tests to the population at regular intervals. The suboptimal performance of the currently available HCC screening tests highlights an urgent need for new modalities and strategies to improve early HCC detection. In this review, we overview recent developments of clinical, molecular, and imaging-based tools to address the current challenge, and discuss conceptual framework and approaches of their clinical translation and implementation. These encouraging progresses are expected to transform the current "one-size-fits-all" HCC screening into individualized precision approaches to early HCC detection and ultimately improve the poor HCC prognosis in the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Te Lee
- California NanoSystems Institute, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Naoto Fujiwara
- Liver Tumor Translational Research Program, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Ju Dong Yang
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California; Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Yujin Hoshida
- Liver Tumor Translational Research Program, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
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Parikh ND, Tayob N, Singal AG. Blood-based biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma screening: Approaching the end of the ultrasound era? J Hepatol 2023; 78:207-216. [PMID: 36089157 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, in part because of inadequate early detection strategies. Current recommendations for screening consist of semi-annual abdominal ultrasound with or without serum alpha-fetoprotein in patients with cirrhosis and in demographic subgroups with chronic hepatitis B infection. However, this screening strategy has several deficiencies, including suboptimal early-stage sensitivity, false positives with subsequent harms, inter-operator variability in ultrasound performance, and poor adherence. A blood-based biomarker with sufficient performance characteristics for early-stage disease could overcome several of these barriers to improving early-stage detection. However, prior to use of a biomarker for screening in clinical practice, a multistep validation is required in order to understand test performance characteristics. These steps include case-control validation, followed by validation in prospective cohorts of at-risk patients. Until recently, we lacked adequate longitudinal validation cohorts for early HCC detection; however, several validation cohorts are maturing, including the Hepatocellular Carcinoma Early Detection Study and the Texas Hepatocellular Carcinoma Consortium, which will allow for rigorous validation of candidate biomarkers. While there are several promising biomarkers awaiting validation, in order to supplant abdominal ultrasound, a candidate biomarker must show adequate test performance and overcome practical hurdles to ensure adoption in clinical practice. The promise of blood-based biomarkers is significant, especially given the limitations of ultrasound-based screening; however, they require adequate validation and several logistical obstacles must be overcome prior to clinical implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neehar D Parikh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Nabihah Tayob
- Department of Biostatistics, Dana Farber Cancer Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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8
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Parikh ND, Tayob N, Al-Jarrah T, Kramer J, Melcher J, Smith D, Marquardt P, Liu PH, Tang R, Kanwal F, Singal AG. Barriers to Surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Multicenter Cohort. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2223504. [PMID: 35867057 PMCID: PMC9308050 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.23504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance is underused in clinical practice, which may be owing to patient and clinician barriers. Objective To characterize HCC surveillance barriers and associations with clinical outcomes in a multicenter cohort of patients with cirrhosis. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included 5 medical centers in the United States. Patients with cirrhosis and newly diagnosed HCC treated from 2014 to 2018 were included. Data were analyzed from June 2021 to February 2022. Exposure Surveillance completion in the 36-month period prior to HCC diagnosis. Main Outcomes and Measures Surveillance receipt was classified as semiannual, annual, or no surveillance. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with semiannual surveillance. We conducted multivariable logistic and Cox regression analyses to characterize associations between surveillance completion with curative treatment and overall survival. Results A total 629 eligible patients (median [IQR] age, 63.6 [56.2-71.0] years; 491 [78.1%] men) were assessed, including 7 American Indian or Alaska Native patients (1.1%), 14 Asian patients (2.2), 176 Black patients (28.0%), 86 Hispanic patients (13.1%), and 340 White patients (54.1%). Nearly two-thirds of the cohort had no surveillance prior to HCC diagnosis (mean [range by site] 63.7% [37.9%-80.4%]), with a mean (range by site) of 14.0% (5.3%-33.3%) of patients having received semiannual surveillance and 22.3% (14.3%-28.8%) of patients having received annual surveillance. The most common reasons for no surveillance were lack of surveillance orders or nonadherence (mean [range by site], 82.4% [66.7%-92.4%], although a mean (range by site) of 17.6% (10.2%-22.1%) of patients had unrecognized cirrhosis at HCC presentation. Semiannual surveillance was associated with hepatitis B infection (odds ratio [OR], 3.06 [95% CI, 1.24-7.23]) and inversely associated with Black race (OR, 0.41 [95% CI, 0.20-0.80]) and lack of cirrhosis recognition (OR, 0.14 [95% CI, 0.02-0.46]). Semiannual HCC surveillance was significantly associated with curative treatment receipt (OR, 2.73 [95% CI, 1.60-4.70]) but not overall survival (HR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.55-1.18]). Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of patients with cirrhosis, HCC surveillance was underused in more than 80% of patients and associated with failures across the screening process. Dedicated programs to improve cirrhosis detection and HCC surveillance attainment are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neehar D. Parikh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Nabihah Tayob
- Department of Biostatistics, Dana Farber Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Taim Al-Jarrah
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Jennifer Kramer
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
- Department of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Jennifer Melcher
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
- Department of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Donna Smith
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
- Department of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Patrick Marquardt
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Po-Hong Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Runlong Tang
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
- Department of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Amit G. Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
- Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
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Singal AG, Tayob N, Mehta A, Marrero JA, El-Serag H, Jin Q, de Viteri CS, Fobar A, Parikh ND. GALAD demonstrates high sensitivity for HCC surveillance in a cohort of patients with cirrhosis. Hepatology 2022; 75:541-549. [PMID: 34618932 PMCID: PMC8844059 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Most patients with HCC are diagnosed at a late stage, highlighting the need for more accurate surveillance tests. Although biomarkers for HCC early detection have promising data in Phase 2 case-control studies, evaluation in cohort studies is critical prior to adoption in practice. We leveraged a prospective cohort of patients with Child-Pugh A or B cirrhosis who were followed until incident HCC, liver transplantation, death, or loss to follow-up. We used a prospective specimen collection, retrospective, blinded evaluation design for biomarker evaluation of GALAD (gender × age × log alpha-fetoprotein [AFP] × des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin), longitudinal GALAD, and the HCC Early Detection Screening (HES) algorithm-compared to AFP-using patient-level sensitivity and screening-level specificity. APPROACH AND RESULTS Of 397 patients with cirrhosis, 42 developed HCC (57.1% early stage) over a median of 2.0 years. Longitudinal GALAD had the highest c-statistic for HCC detection (0.85; 95% CI, 0.77-0.92) compared to single-time point GALAD (0.79; 95% CI, 0.71-0.87), AFP (0.77; 95% CI, 0.69-0.85), and HES (0.76; 95% CI, 0.67-0.83). When specificity was fixed at 90%, the sensitivity for HCC of single-time point and longitudinal GALAD was 54.8% and 66.7%, respectively, compared to 40.5% for AFP. Sensitivity for HCC detection was higher when restricted to patients with biomarker assessment within 6 months prior to HCC diagnosis, with the highest sensitivities observed for single-time point GALAD (72.0%) and longitudinal GALAD (64.0%), respectively. Sensitivity of single-time point and longitudinal GALAD for early-stage HCC was 53.8% and 69.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION GALAD demonstrated high sensitivity for HCC detection in a cohort of patients with cirrhosis. Validation of these results is warranted in large Phase 3 data sets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G. Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Nabihah Tayob
- Department of Biostatistics, Dana Farber Cancer Center, Boston MA
| | - Anand Mehta
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Jorge A. Marrero
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Hashem El-Serag
- Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Qingchun Jin
- Department of Biostatistics, Dana Farber Cancer Center, Boston MA
| | | | - Austin Fobar
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
| | - Neehar D. Parikh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
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10
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Singal AG, El-Serag HB. Rational HCC screening approaches for patients with NAFLD. J Hepatol 2022; 76:195-201. [PMID: 34508791 PMCID: PMC8688224 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), especially among those who have cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis, but 20-30% of cases of NAFLD-related HCC occur in the absence of advanced fibrosis. The prevalence of NAFLD-related HCC is increasing in most countries worldwide. There are few direct data to support or refute the efficacy or effectiveness of HCC surveillance in NAFLD or to guide its application. We use evidence on surveillance in other conditions and studies on the clinical course of patients with NAFLD to arrive at recommendations for rational approaches to HCC surveillance in this growing cohort of patients. We also outline gaps in research and practice, including opportunities to advance the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Hashem B El-Serag
- Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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11
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Piratvisuth T, Tanwandee T, Thongsawat S, Sukeepaisarnjaroen W, Esteban JI, Bes M, Köhler B, He Y, Swiatek-de Lange M, Morgenstern D, Chan HLY. Multimarker Panels for Detection of Early Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Prospective, Multicenter, Case-Control Study. Hepatol Commun 2021; 6:679-691. [PMID: 34796691 PMCID: PMC8948551 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the sixth most common cancer worldwide, has an incidence rate equal to mortality. Over 80% of HCC cases occur within a high‐risk population, mainly patients with both cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B or C. With a 5‐year survival rate ranging from <16% for advanced HCC to >90% for early stage HCC, there is a high medical need for the early detection of HCC. In this study, we systematically evaluated biomarkers mentioned in international guidelines and peer‐reviewed literature for HCC surveillance and diagnosis with the aim of identifying combinations that display high sensitivity and specificity for early stage HCC. Fifty biomarkers were measured in the first sample panel, panel A (n = 110), and subjected to univariate analysis. Of these, 35 biomarkers (38 assays) from panel A and an additional 13 biomarkers from the literature were prioritized for subsequent multivariate evaluation with lasso regression and exhaustive search of two‐ to four‐biomarker combinations (panel B). Panel B included 1,081 samples from patients with HCC (n = 308) or with chronic liver diseases (n = 740). Among all patients, 61.0% had hepatitis B, 32.9% had hepatitis C, and 60.5% had cirrhosis; 40.6% of patients with HCC had early stage cancer. Protein induced by vitamin K absence‐II (PIVKA‐II; also known as des‐gamma‐carboxy prothrombin [DCP]) and alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) demonstrated the best clinical performance, both individually and in combination, and the addition of a third biomarker (Lens culinaris agglutinin‐reactive fraction of AFP [AFP‐L3], cartilage oligomeric matrix protein [COMP], insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein 3 [IGFBP3], or matrix metalloproteinase 3 [MMP3]) further increased sensitivity for the detection of both early stage and all‐stage HCC. The addition of age and sex to the three‐biomarker panel resulted in an improved diagnostic performance. Conclusion: The combination of AFP and PIVKA‐II, with either IGFBP3, COMP or MMP3, plus age and sex, demonstrated the best performance for the detection of early‐ and all‐stage HCC. These novel panels performed similar to that of the GALAD score (sex [gender], age, plus serum levels of AFP, AFP‐L3 and DCP [PIVKA‐II]), a promising screening tool developed for HCC detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teerha Piratvisuth
- NKC Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Songklanagarind Hospital, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand
| | - Tawesak Tanwandee
- Division of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Satawat Thongsawat
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | | | - Juan Ignacio Esteban
- Liver Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Insituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Bes
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Insituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Transfusion Safety Laboratory, Banc de Sang i Teixits, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bruno Köhler
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Liver Cancer Center Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ying He
- Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Penzberg, Germany
| | | | | | - Henry Lik-Yuen Chan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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12
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Mospan AR, Morris HL, Fried MW. Real-world evidence in hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver Int 2021; 41 Suppl 1:61-67. [PMID: 34155788 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Real-world evidence includes all health-related information, such as electronic health records, insurance claims, pharmacy records and wearables that are obtained outside of clinical trials. These data can provide critical insights into the natural history of disease and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of treatment regimens used in clinical practice. Real-world data have been applied to varying degrees by global regulatory agencies to inform and expedite many phases of drug development and help refine the use of therapeutic regimens after marketing, especially in populations that are under-represented in registration trials. For the management of hepatocellular carcinoma, early detection provides the best chance for curative therapies, whose success has been evaluated in numerous cohorts. The availability of novel systemic therapies, including kinase inhibitors and immunotherapies, has provided new treatment options and improved survival in patients with advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma. Real-world longitudinal observational studies can help understand the long-term safety and effectiveness of these agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michael W Fried
- Target RWE, Durham, NC, USA.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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13
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Kubota N, Fujiwara N, Hoshida Y. Clinical and Molecular Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9123843. [PMID: 33256232 PMCID: PMC7761278 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9123843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk becomes increasingly important with recently emerging HCC-predisposing conditions, namely non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cured hepatitis C virus infection. These etiologies are accompanied with a relatively low HCC incidence rate (~1% per year or less), while affecting a large patient population. Hepatitis B virus infection remains a major HCC risk factor, but a majority of the patients are now on antiviral therapy, which substantially lowers, but does not eliminate, HCC risk. Thus, it is critically important to identify a small subset of patients who have elevated likelihood of developing HCC, to optimize the allocation of limited HCC screening resources to those who need it most and enable cost-effective early HCC diagnosis to prolong patient survival. To date, numerous clinical-variable-based HCC risk scores have been developed for specific clinical contexts defined by liver disease etiology, severity, and other factors. In parallel, various molecular features have been reported as potential HCC risk biomarkers, utilizing both tissue and body-fluid specimens. Deep-learning-based risk modeling is an emerging strategy. Although none of them has been widely incorporated in clinical care of liver disease patients yet, some have been undergoing the process of validation and clinical development. In this review, these risk scores and biomarker candidates are overviewed, and strategic issues in their validation and clinical translation are discussed.
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Parikh ND, Mehta AS, Singal AG, Block T, Marrero JA, Lok AS. Biomarkers for the Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020; 29:2495-2503. [PMID: 32238405 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-20-0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and the cancer with the fastest increase in mortality in the United States, with more than 39,000 cases and 29,000 deaths in 2018. As with many cancers, survival is significantly improved by early detection. The median survival of patients with early HCC is >60 months but <15 months when detected at an advanced stage. Surveillance of at-risk patients improves outcome, but fewer than 20% of those at risk for HCC receive surveillance, and current surveillance strategies have limited sensitivity and specificity. Ideally, blood-based biomarkers with adequate sensitivity or specificity would be available for early detection of HCC; however, the most commonly used biomarker for HCC, alpha-fetoprotein, has inadequate performance characteristics. There are several candidate serum proteomic, glycomic, and genetic markers that have gone through early stages of biomarker validation and have shown promise for the early detection of HCC, but these markers require validation in well-curated cohorts. Ongoing prospective cohort studies will permit retrospective longitudinal (phase III biomarker study) validation of biomarkers. In this review, we highlight promising candidate biomarkers and biomarker panels that have completed phase II evaluation but require further validation prior to clinical use.See all articles in this CEBP Focus section, "NCI Early Detection Research Network: Making Cancer Detection Possible."
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Affiliation(s)
- Neehar D Parikh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
| | - Anand S Mehta
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Amit G Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Timothy Block
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute of The Hepatitis B Foundation, Doylestown, Pennsylvania
| | - Jorge A Marrero
- 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
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15
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Only one-third of hepatocellular carcinoma cases are diagnosed via screening or surveillance: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 32:406-419. [PMID: 31490419 DOI: 10.1097/meg.0000000000001523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTS Early hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis is associated with better long-term survival. Studies of at-risk patients who are monitored in routine practice have reported an overall adherence rate to hepatocellular carcinoma screening/surveillance of approximately 60% and suboptimal diagnostic efficacy of the current screening/surveillance tools. However, it is unclear how many hepatocellular carcinoma patients were actually diagnosed via screening/surveillance given these obstacles. Therefore, via a systematic review of PubMed and Scopus databases from 2000 to 2019, we aimed to identify the proportion of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed via screening/surveillance in routine practice. METHODS We included original research articles of studies of patients already diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma that reported the proportion of hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed via screening/surveillance. RESULTS The study included 60 studies and 50 554 hepatocellular carcinoma cases. The pooled proportion of hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed by screening/surveillance was 37% (95% confidence interval: 31%-44%) and differed by geographic region (North America/Asia/Europe/Oceania/Africa/South America, 31%/42%/41%/30%/29%/47%, P = 0.017, respectively) and by surveillance interval (<12 months 39% vs. 12 months 19%, P < 0.01) but not by disease etiology, cirrhosis status, clinical setting, practice setting, hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis period, or surveillance method. CONCLUSION Globally, hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed via screening/surveillance in less than half of the patients (37%) regardless of healthcare setting or liver disease etiology and without improvement over time despite several recent guideline updates. Research is needed to understand the barriers to screening/surveillance to include medical as well as social and cultural influences.
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