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Makuza JD, Wong S, Morrow RL, Binka M, Darvishian M, Jeong D, Adu PA, Cua G, Yu A, Velásquez García HA, Bartlett SR, Yoshida E, Ramji A, Krajden M, Janjua NZ. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in British Columbia, Canada: An interrupted time series study. J Viral Hepat 2024. [PMID: 38923070 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13980] [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: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
We assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance among individuals with HCV diagnosed with cirrhosis in British Columbia (BC), Canada. We used data from the British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC), including all individuals in the province tested for or diagnosed with HCV from 1 January 1990 to 31 December 2015, to assess HCC surveillance. To analyse the impact of the pandemic on HCC surveillance, we used pre-policy (January 2018 to February 2020) and post-policy (March to December 2020) periods. We conducted interrupted time series (ITS) analysis using a segmented linear regression model and included first-order autocorrelation terms. From January 2018 to December 2020, 6546 HCC screenings were performed among 3429 individuals with HCV and cirrhosis. The ITS model showed an immediate decrease in HCC screenings in March and April 2020, with an overall level change of -71 screenings [95% confidence interval (CI): -105.9, -18.9]. We observed a significant decrease in HCC surveillance among study participants, regardless of HCV treatment status and age group, with the sharpest decrease among untreated HCV patients. A recovery of HCC surveillance followed this decline, reflected in an increasing trend of 7.8 screenings (95% CI: 0.6, 13.5) per month during the post-policy period. There was no level or trend change in the number of individuals diagnosed with HCC. We observed a sharp decline in HCC surveillance among people living with HCV and cirrhosis in BC following the COVID-19 pandemic control measures. HCC screening returned to pre-pandemic levels by mid-2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Damascene Makuza
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Data and Analytic Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stanley Wong
- Data and Analytic Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- University of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Richard L Morrow
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Data and Analytic Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mawuena Binka
- Data and Analytic Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maryam Darvishian
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dahn Jeong
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Data and Analytic Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Prince A Adu
- Data and Analytic Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Georgine Cua
- Data and Analytic Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- University of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amanda Yu
- Data and Analytic Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hector A Velásquez García
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Data and Analytic Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- University of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sofia R Bartlett
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Data and Analytic Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Eric Yoshida
- Department of Social Medicine, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Dublin, Ohio, USA
| | - Alnoor Ramji
- Department of Social Medicine, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Dublin, Ohio, USA
| | - Mel Krajden
- Data and Analytic Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Naveed Z Janjua
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Data and Analytic Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- University of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre for Advancing Health, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Liang J, Lee YT, Yeo YH, Luu M, Ayoub W, Kuo A, Trivedi H, Vipani A, Gaddam S, Kim H, Wang Y, Rich N, Kosari K, Nissen N, Parikh N, Singal AG, Yang JD. Impact of the Early COVID-19 Pandemic on Incidence and Outcomes of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the United States. Clin Transl Gastroenterol 2024:01720094-990000000-00267. [PMID: 38829967 DOI: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Access to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance and treatments were disrupted during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We aimed to characterize the impact of the pandemic on HCC incidence and mortality rates, treatment, and outcomes in the United States. METHODS Two nationwide databases, the United States Cancer Statistics and the National Vital Statistics System, were used to investigate HCC incidence and mortality between 2001 and 2020. Trends in age-adjusted incidence rate (aIR) and adjusted mortality rate (aMR) were assessed using joinpoint analysis. The 2020 aIR and aMR were projected based on the prepandemic data and compared with actual values to assess the extent of underdiagnosis. We assessed differences in HCC characteristics, treatment, and overall survival between 2020 and 2018-2019. RESULTS The aIR of HCC in 2020 was significantly reduced compared with 2019 (5.22 vs 6.03/100K person-years [PY]), representing a 12.2% decrease compared with the predicted aIR in 2020 (5.94/100K PY). The greatest extent of underdiagnosis was observed in Black (-14.87%) and Hispanic (-14.51%) individuals and those with localized HCC (-15.12%). Individuals staged as regional or distant HCC were also less likely to receive treatment in 2020. However, there was no significant difference in short-term overall survival in 2020 compared with 2018-2019, with HCC mortality rates remaining stable (aMR: 2.76 vs 2.73/100K PY in 2020 vs 2019). DISCUSSION The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in underdiagnosis of HCC, particularly early stage disease and racial ethnic minorities, and underuse of HCC-directed treatment. Longer follow-up is needed to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HCC-related mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeff Liang
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yi-Te Lee
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yee Hui Yeo
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Michael Luu
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Research Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Walid Ayoub
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Alexander Kuo
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Hirsh Trivedi
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Aarshi Vipani
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Srinivas Gaddam
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Hyunseok Kim
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yun Wang
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Nicole Rich
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Kambiz Kosari
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Nicholas Nissen
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Neehar Parikh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Amit G Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Population & Data Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Ju Dong Yang
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Taylor-Robinson SD, Morgan MY. COVID-19 and the Liver: A Complex and Evolving Picture. Hepat Med 2023; 15:209-220. [PMID: 37965296 PMCID: PMC10641025 DOI: 10.2147/hmer.s384172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily attacks the respiratory system, other organs, such as the liver, are also affected. In this overview, the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the liver in both healthy people and in those with pre-existing liver disease are documented; the relationship between coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) vaccination and liver injury is examined; the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2-associated liver injury is explored; and the long-term consequences of COVID-19 are delineated, both in people with and without pre-existing liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Taylor-Robinson
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Public Health, Busitema University and Mbale Clinical Research Institute, Mbale, Uganda
| | - Marsha Y Morgan
- UCL Institute for Liver & Digestive Health, Division of Medicine, Royal Free Campus, University College London, London, UK
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Kuzuu K, Misawa N, Ashikari K, Tamura S, Kato S, Hosono K, Yoneda M, Nonaka T, Matsushima S, Komatsu T, Nakajima A, Higurashi T. Changes in the Number of Gastrointestinal Cancers and Stage at Diagnosis with COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: A Multicenter Cohort Study. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4410. [PMID: 37686686 PMCID: PMC10487252 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15174410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
This retrospective cohort study compared the number of newly diagnosed patients, stage at diagnosis, and detection process of gastrointestinal cancers based on hospital-based cancer registry data at two tertiary Japanese hospitals. The pre-COVID-19 period was from January 2017 to February 2020, with phase 1 (midst of COVID-19 pandemic) from March to December 2020 and phase 2 (the transition period to the "new normal") from January to December 2021. Each month, the number of patients diagnosed with esophageal, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, liver, and biliary tract cancers were aggregated, classified by stage and detection process, and compared, including a total of 6453 patients. The number of colorectal Stage 0-II patients decreased significantly in phase 1 and increased in phase 2. The total number of colorectal cancer patients returned to pre-COVID-19 levels (mean monthly patients [SD]: 41.61 [6.81] vs. 36.00 [6.72] vs. 46.00 [11.32]). The number of patients with gastric cancer Stage I significantly decreased in phase 2 following phase 1. The number of gastric cancer patients decreased significantly from pre-COVID-19 levels (30.63 [6.62] vs. 22.40 [5.85] vs. 24.50 [4.15]). During phase 2, the number of patients diagnosed after screening with colorectal cancer increased significantly, whereas that with gastric cancer remained considerably lower. The number of Stage III colorectal and gastric cancer patients increased significantly from the pre-COVID-19 levels. Thus, gastric cancer may not be optimally screened during phases 1 and 2. There was a significant increase in patients with Stage III colorectal and gastric cancers from the pre-COVID-19 period; hence, the stage at diagnosis may have progressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kento Kuzuu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Noboru Misawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Keiichi Ashikari
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Shigeki Tamura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Shingo Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Kunihiro Hosono
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Masato Yoneda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Takashi Nonaka
- National Hospital Organization Yokohama Medical Center, 3-60-2 Harazyuku, Totuka-ku, Yokohama 245-8575, Japan; (T.N.); (S.M.); (T.K.)
| | - Shozo Matsushima
- National Hospital Organization Yokohama Medical Center, 3-60-2 Harazyuku, Totuka-ku, Yokohama 245-8575, Japan; (T.N.); (S.M.); (T.K.)
| | - Tatsuji Komatsu
- National Hospital Organization Yokohama Medical Center, 3-60-2 Harazyuku, Totuka-ku, Yokohama 245-8575, Japan; (T.N.); (S.M.); (T.K.)
| | - Atsushi Nakajima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
| | - Takuma Higurashi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; (K.K.); (N.M.); (K.A.); (S.T.); (S.K.); (K.H.); (M.Y.); (A.N.)
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Akbulut S, Garzali IU, Hargura AS, Aloun A, Yilmaz S. Screening, Surveillance, and Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Narrative Review. J Gastrointest Cancer 2023; 54:408-419. [PMID: 35499649 PMCID: PMC9058753 DOI: 10.1007/s12029-022-00830-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The COVID-19 pandemic has been a burden to the global community as a whole but the healthcare community had bore the brunt of it. The pandemic resulted in policy changes that interfered with effective healthcare delivery. The healthcare community attempted to cope with the pandemic by triaging and prioritizing emergency conditions especially COVID related, ahead of elective conditions like cancer care. There was also fear that patients with cancer were at an increased risk of sever COVID-19 with increased mortality. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was also affected by these policies. METHODS We reviewed the modified measures adopted in screening, surveillance, and management of HCC during the pandemic using PubMed, Medline, Index Medicus, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar databases. RESULT The main modification in surveillance and screening for HCC during the pandemic includes limiting the surveillance to those with very high risk of HCC. The interval between surveillan was also delayed by few months in some cases. The adoption of teleconferencing for multidisciplinary team meetings and patient consultation is one of the highlights of this pandemic all in an effort to reduce contact and spread of the virus. The treatment of early-stage HCC was also modified as needed. The role of ablative therapy in the management of early HCC was very prominent during the pandemic as the surgical therapy was significantly affected by the lacks of ventilators and intensive care unit space resulting from the pandemic. Transplantation, especially living donor liver transplantation, was suspended in few centers because of the risk of infection to the living donors. CONCLUSION As we gradually recover from the pandemic, we should prepare for the fallout from the pandemic as we may encounter increased presentation of those patients deferred from screening during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami Akbulut
- Department of Surgery and Liver Transplant Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Elazig Yolu 10 Km, Malatya, 44280 Turkey
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, 44280 Malatya, Turkey
| | - Ibrahim Umar Garzali
- Department of Surgery and Liver Transplant Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Elazig Yolu 10 Km, Malatya, 44280 Turkey
- Department of Surgery, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, 700101 Nigeria
| | - Abdirahman Sakulen Hargura
- Department of Surgery and Liver Transplant Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Elazig Yolu 10 Km, Malatya, 44280 Turkey
- Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital, Nairobi, 00100 Kenya
| | - Ali Aloun
- Department of Surgery and Liver Transplant Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Elazig Yolu 10 Km, Malatya, 44280 Turkey
| | - Sezai Yilmaz
- Department of Surgery and Liver Transplant Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Elazig Yolu 10 Km, Malatya, 44280 Turkey
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Ramouz A, Fakour S, Jafari M, Khajeh E, Golriz M, Majlesara A, Merle U, Springfeld C, Longerich T, Mieth M, Mehrabi A. Surgical management of primary liver cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic: overcoming the dilemma with standardization. HPB (Oxford) 2023:S1365-182X(23)00124-7. [PMID: 37149487 PMCID: PMC10105379 DOI: 10.1016/j.hpb.2023.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study evaluates the impact of the pandemic on outcomes after surgical treatment for primary liver cancer in a high-volume hepatopancreatobiliary surgery center. METHODS Patients, who underwent liver resection for primary liver resection between January 2019 and February 2020, comprised pre-pandemic control group. The pandemic period was divided into two timeframes: early pandemic (March 2020-January 2021) and late pandemic (February 2021-December 2021). Liver resections during 2022 were considered as the post-pandemic period. Peri-, and postoperative patient data were gathered from a prospectively maintained database. RESULTS Two-hundred-eighty-one patients underwent liver resection for primary liver cancer. The number of procedures decreased by 37.1% during early phase of pandemic, but then increased by 66.7% during late phase, which was comparable to post-pandemic phase. Postoperative outcomes were similar between four phases. The duration of hospital stay was longer during the late phase, but not significantly different compared to other groups. CONCLUSION Despite an initial reduction in number of surgeries, COVID-19 pandemic had no negative effect on outcomes of surgical treatment for primary liver cancer. The structured standard operating protocol in a high-volume and highly specialized surgical center can withstand negative effects, a pandemic may have on treatment of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ramouz
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sanam Fakour
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marzieh Jafari
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elias Khajeh
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mohammad Golriz
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Liver Cancer Centre Heidelberg (LCCH), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ali Majlesara
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Uta Merle
- Liver Cancer Centre Heidelberg (LCCH), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Internal Medicine IV, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Springfeld
- Liver Cancer Centre Heidelberg (LCCH), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Medical Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Longerich
- Liver Cancer Centre Heidelberg (LCCH), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany; Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus Mieth
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Liver Cancer Centre Heidelberg (LCCH), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arianeb Mehrabi
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Liver Cancer Centre Heidelberg (LCCH), Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Identification of the Best Cut-Off Value of PIVKA-II for the Surveillance of Patients at Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12010094. [PMID: 36671786 PMCID: PMC9855902 DOI: 10.3390/biology12010094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Patients with cirrhosis are at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and, according to current guidelines, should undergo surveillance by ultrasound at six month intervals. Due to the known limitations of surveillance strategies based on ultrasonography, the use of tumor biomarkers, although debated, is common practice in many centers. The aim of the study was to identify the best cut-off value for one of such biomarkers, protein induced by vitamin K absence, or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II). We retrospectively enrolled 1187 patients with liver cirrhosis: 205 with a diagnosis of HCC (median age 67 years, 81.0% males) and 982 without tumor (median age 64 years, 56.2% males). During a median follow-up (FU) of 34.6 (11.4−43.7) months, 118 out of 982 (12.0%) patients developed HCC. Serum PIVKA-II was assessed by chemiluminescence immunoassay on the Lumipulse® G600 II platform (Fujirebio, Tokyo, Japan). In the overall cohort (n = 1187), PIVKA-II showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.802 for HCC detection. The best cut-off value that maximized sensitivity was 50 mAU/mL (sensitivity = 80%, specificity = 64%). In the 982 patients without HCC at baseline, PIVKA-II > 50 mAU/mL was associated with an increased risk of HCC development during the FU (HR = 1.74, 95% CI 1.21−2.51; p = 0.003)). In conclusion, the evaluation of serum PIVKA-II showed a good performance for HCC detection; a cut-off value > 50 mAU/mL could be suitable for the surveillance of patients who are at risk of developing HCC.
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Caviglia GP, Nicolosi A, Abate ML, Carucci P, Rosso C, Rolle E, Armandi A, Aneli S, Olivero A, Risso A, Ribaldone DG, Fermer C, Saracco GM, Gaia S, Bugianesi E. Liver Cancer-Specific Isoform of Serine Protease Inhibitor Kazal for the Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Results from a Pilot Study in Patients with Dysmetabolic Liver Disease. Curr Oncol 2022; 29:5457-5465. [PMID: 36005169 PMCID: PMC9406939 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29080431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Reliable non-invasive biomarkers for the surveillance of patients at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development represent an unmet medical need. Recently, the liver-cancer-specific isoform of serine protease inhibitor Kazal (LC-SPIK) has been proposed as a valuable biomarker for the detection of HCC in patients with chronic liver disease of viral etiology. In the present study, we assessed the diagnostic accuracy of LC-SPIK, alone or in combination with standard serologic biomarkers (i.e., alpha-fetoprotein and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II, PIVKA-II), for the detection of HCC among patients with dysmetabolic liver disease. A total of 120 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), including 62 patients with a diagnosis of HCC and 58 with cirrhosis but without tumor, were retrospectively analyzed. The serum levels of LC-SPIK were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ImCare Biotech, Doylestown, PA). The serum LC-SPIK values were significantly different between patients with HCC (24.3, 17.6−39.8 ng/mL) and those with cirrhosis but without tumor (11.7, 8.7−18.2 ng/mL) (p < 0.001). By receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, we observed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.841 for the detection of HCC; the combination with PIVKA-II further increased the accuracy to AUC = 0.926 (cross-validation). The promising results observed in the present pilot study foster additional research to investigate the usefulness of LC-SPIK for the stratification of the risk of HCC development in patients with NAFLD and advanced liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Paolo Caviglia
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Torino, Italy; (A.N.); (M.L.A.); (C.R.); (A.A.); (A.O.); (D.G.R.); (G.M.S.); (E.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-11-633-3922
| | - Aurora Nicolosi
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Torino, Italy; (A.N.); (M.L.A.); (C.R.); (A.A.); (A.O.); (D.G.R.); (G.M.S.); (E.B.)
| | - Maria Lorena Abate
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Torino, Italy; (A.N.); (M.L.A.); (C.R.); (A.A.); (A.O.); (D.G.R.); (G.M.S.); (E.B.)
| | - Patrizia Carucci
- Gastroenterology Unit, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, 10126 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (E.R.); (A.R.); (S.G.)
| | - Chiara Rosso
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Torino, Italy; (A.N.); (M.L.A.); (C.R.); (A.A.); (A.O.); (D.G.R.); (G.M.S.); (E.B.)
| | - Emanuela Rolle
- Gastroenterology Unit, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, 10126 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (E.R.); (A.R.); (S.G.)
| | - Angelo Armandi
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Torino, Italy; (A.N.); (M.L.A.); (C.R.); (A.A.); (A.O.); (D.G.R.); (G.M.S.); (E.B.)
| | - Serena Aneli
- Department of Sciences of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Turin, 10126 Torino, Italy;
| | - Antonella Olivero
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Torino, Italy; (A.N.); (M.L.A.); (C.R.); (A.A.); (A.O.); (D.G.R.); (G.M.S.); (E.B.)
| | - Alessandra Risso
- Gastroenterology Unit, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, 10126 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (E.R.); (A.R.); (S.G.)
| | - Davide Giuseppe Ribaldone
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Torino, Italy; (A.N.); (M.L.A.); (C.R.); (A.A.); (A.O.); (D.G.R.); (G.M.S.); (E.B.)
- Gastroenterology Unit, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, 10126 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (E.R.); (A.R.); (S.G.)
| | | | - Giorgio Maria Saracco
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Torino, Italy; (A.N.); (M.L.A.); (C.R.); (A.A.); (A.O.); (D.G.R.); (G.M.S.); (E.B.)
- Gastroenterology Unit, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, 10126 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (E.R.); (A.R.); (S.G.)
| | - Silvia Gaia
- Gastroenterology Unit, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, 10126 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (E.R.); (A.R.); (S.G.)
| | - Elisabetta Bugianesi
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Torino, Italy; (A.N.); (M.L.A.); (C.R.); (A.A.); (A.O.); (D.G.R.); (G.M.S.); (E.B.)
- Gastroenterology Unit, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza, 10126 Torino, Italy; (P.C.); (E.R.); (A.R.); (S.G.)
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9
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Guarino M, Cossiga V, Capasso M, Mazzarelli C, Pelizzaro F, Sacco R, Russo FP, Vitale A, Trevisani F, Cabibbo G. Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on the Management of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11154475. [PMID: 35956091 PMCID: PMC9369221 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11154475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Worldwide, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) significantly increases mortality and morbidity. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has had a considerable impact on healthcare systems all around the world, having a significant effect on planned patient activity and established care pathways, in order to meet the difficult task of the global pandemic. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are considered a particularly susceptible population and conceivably at increased risk for severe COVID-19 because of two combined risk factors: chronic advanced liver disease and HCC itself. In these challenging times, it is mandatory to reshape clinical practice in a prompt way to preserve the highest standards of patient care and safety. However, due to the stay-at-home measures instituted to stop the spread of COVID-19, HCC surveillance has incurred a dramatic drop, and care for HCC patients has been rearranged by refining the algorithm for HCC treatment to the COVID-19 pandemic, permitting these patients to be safely managed by identifying those most at risk of neoplastic disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Guarino
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (V.C.); (M.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Valentina Cossiga
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (V.C.); (M.C.)
| | - Mario Capasso
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (V.C.); (M.C.)
| | - Chiara Mazzarelli
- Hepatology and Gastroenterology Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy;
| | - Filippo Pelizzaro
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy; (F.P.); (F.P.R.)
- Gastroenterology Unit, Azienda Ospedale-Università di Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Sacco
- Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Policlinico Riuniti, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
| | - Francesco Paolo Russo
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy; (F.P.); (F.P.R.)
- Gastroenterology Unit, Azienda Ospedale-Università di Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vitale
- Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy;
| | - Franco Trevisani
- Unit of Semeiotics, Liver and Alcohol-Related Diseases, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
- Unit of Semeiotics, Liver and Alcohol-Related Diseases, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cabibbo
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (ProMISE)-University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy;
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10
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Carissimi F, Scotti MA, Ciulli C, Fogliati A, Uggeri F, Chiarelli M, Braga M, Romano F, Garancini M. COVID-19 and Liver Surgery: How the Pandemic Affected an Italian Medium-Volume HBP Center. Front Surg 2022; 9:918348. [PMID: 35836608 PMCID: PMC9275712 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.918348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction While the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, it is even more evident that victims of the pandemic are not only those who contract the virus, but also the countless patients suffering from other serious diseases (i.e., tumor) who have undergone delayed potentially life-saving surgery due to a lack of beds. Like many hospitals, ours also initially blocked all elective oncologic surgery, but these operations were “recovered” and reintegrated in a relatively short time, thanks to the establishment of COVID-free wards and operating rooms with staff dedicated to oncological surgery. In tis context, our aim is to assess whether and how the severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has impacted our hepatobiliary surgery unit. Methods From our prospective database, we retrospectively took data from patients undergoing liver surgery in 2018–2019 (pre-COVID) and 2020–2021 (COVID period). Patients admitted to COVID-free wards must necessarily have a negative nasal swab from the previous 24 h. Results Between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019 (Group 1), 101 patients were treated; during the pandemic [January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021 (Group 2)], 126 patients were treated. There was no statistical difference between the groups. The median postoperative hospital stay was 7 days for both groups; 7 patients had major complications (Clavien-Dindo > 3) in Group 1 and 11 in Group 2 (p = 0.795). A total of 4 patients died in Group 1 and 6 during the pandemic (p = 0.754). Tumor burden was significantly greater in Group 2 where nodule size, lymphadenectomy, and extrahepatic disease were significantly greater (p = 0.011, p = 0.004, and p = 0.026, respectively). Conclusion During the COVID pandemic, our HPB unit managed to offer a volume of tertiary-center hepatobiliary surgery without a significant impact in terms of length of stay, morbidity, or mortality despite the increase in tumor burden during the pandemic years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Carissimi
- Department of Surgery, HPB and Gastroenterological Surgery Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Alessandro Scotti
- Department of Surgery, HPB and Gastroenterological Surgery Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Cristina Ciulli
- Department of Surgery, HPB and Gastroenterological Surgery Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Fogliati
- Department of Surgery, HPB and Gastroenterological Surgery Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Uggeri
- Department of Surgery, HPB and Gastroenterological Surgery Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Marco Braga
- Department of Surgery, HPB and Gastroenterological Surgery Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Romano
- Department of Surgery, HPB and Gastroenterological Surgery Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Mattia Garancini
- Department of Surgery, HPB and Gastroenterological Surgery Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
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