Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial of a Mailed Outreach Strategy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance

Dedicated Automatic Recall Hepatocellular Cancer Surveillance Programme Demonstrates High Retention: A Population-Based Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Patient, clinician, and system-related barriers may affect adherence to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance programmes. The impact of a dedicated automated recall HCC surveillance programme on retention rates in patients eligible for screening is unknown. We aimed to describe and evaluate a large HCC surveillance programme in a publicly funded healthcare system.

METHODS

Data were collected from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2022, from a retrospective cohort of subjects enrolled in a publicly funded automated recall semi-annual surveillance programme as per the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease HCC guidance in the Calgary Health Zone (~1.6 million), Canada. Patients were excluded if there was incomplete data or did not meet indications for surveillance. Cox regression was used to identify predictors of non-retention to surveillance.

RESULTS

A total of 7269 patients were included. The median was age 55.5 years (IQR: 45.5-63.8), 60% were male, 46% were of Asian descent, 51% had HBV infection, and 36% had cirrhosis (35% alcohol-related). Median follow-up was 4.9 years (IQR: 1.5-7.2). Overall, 52% (n = 3768) of patients were retained in the surveillance programme, while 8.3% (n = 603) left for potential medical reasons, and 40% (n = 2898) were lost in follow-up. The median time in the programme for those lost in follow-up was 0.81 years (IQR: 0.0-2.8) compared to 6.75 years if retained (IQR: 5.6-8.6; p < 0.001). In multivariable Cox regression analysis, HCV aetiology (HR 1.41; CI 1.23-1.62, p < 0.01), African ethnicity (HR 1.20, CI 1.02-1.42, p = 0.03), and cirrhosis (HR 1.16, CI 1.05-1.28, p < 0.01) increased risk of dropout. On interaction analysis, Hepatitis B amongst cirrhotic patients also increased risk of dropout (HR 1.48, CI 1.05-2.07, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

A dedicated automated recall HCC surveillance programme has a high retention rate in a large multi-ethnic cohort of patients while identifying certain marginalised patient populations, such as those with viral liver disease, cirrhosis, or African ethnicity, as particularly vulnerable to loss to follow-up.

Cost-effectiveness of an outreach program for HCC screening in patients with cirrhosis: a microsimulation modeling study

Background

Patients with cirrhosis are at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but few undergo guideline-recommended semi-annual screening. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) demonstrate that mailed outreach can increase screening versus visit-based screening. We estimated the costs and cost-effectiveness of an outreach strategy versus usual care.

Methods

We built a 10-year Markov chain Monte Carlo microsimulation model to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing a mailed outreach program versus usual care for HCC screening in a cohort of 10,000 patients with cirrhosis. Model inputs were based on literature review (2005-current), and costs were based on inflation-adjusted estimates from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare claims data. We conducted one-way sensitivity analyses for HCC incidence, outreach costs, efficacy of the outreach strategy to increase screening, and efficacy of curative (versus palliative) HCC treatments.

Findings

Mailed outreach was estimated to cost $32.45 per patient in the first year and $21.90 per patient in subsequent years. The outreach program increased the number of HCC patients detected at an early stage by 48.4% and increased quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) by 300. Cost savings from these increases offset the costs of mailed outreach. Mailed outreach remained cost-effective across a wide range of HCC incidence rates, outreach costs, efficacy of the outreach strategy to increase screening, and the efficacy of curative HCC treatments. Annual out-of-pocket patient costs in the outreach arm were low at $13 per year.

Interpretation

Mailed outreach to encourage HCC screening in patients with cirrhosis dominates usual care and should be considered for implementation in routine practice.

Funding

National Cancer Institute and Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas.

Benefits and harms of hepatocellular carcinoma screening outreach in patients with cirrhosis: a multicenter randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The value of hepatocellular carcinoma screening is defined by the balance of benefits from early tumor detection vs harms because of false-positive results. We evaluated the value of a mailed outreach strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma screening in patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter pragmatic randomized clinical trial comparing mailed outreach for hepatocellular carcinoma screening (n = 1436) and usual care with visit-based screening (n = 1436) among patients with cirrhosis at 3 health systems from March 2018 to September 2021. Outcomes of interest were early stage hepatocellular carcinoma detection (ie, screening benefit) and diagnostic evaluation for false-positive or indeterminate results (ie, screening harm). Screening harm was categorized as mild, moderate, and severe based on number and type of diagnostic exams. All patients were included in intention-to-screen analyses.

RESULTS

Of 125 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (67 outreach and 58 usual care), 71.2% were found at an early stage per the Milan criteria. Early tumor detection did not statistically significantly differ between the outreach and usual care arms (64.2% vs 79.3%; P = .06). The proportion of patients with physical harms also did not differ between the outreach and usual care arms (10.8% vs 10.7%; P = .95) with 5.9% in both arms having mild harms; 4.0% and 3.8%, respectively, with moderate harms; and 0.9% and 1.0%, respectively, with severe harms.

CONCLUSION

Most patients enrolled in hepatocellular carcinoma screening were detected at an early stage, and a minority experienced physical harms. A mailed outreach strategy did not increase early hepatocellular carcinoma detection or physical harms compared with usual care.

CLINICAL TRIALS NUMBER

NCT02582918 and NCT03756051.

Cirrhosis in primary practice: many patients remain potentially undiagnosed and are not receiving liver cancer surveillance

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Most patients with cirrhosis have compensated disease and are cared for in primary care; however, the exact epidemiology within Australia remains largely unknown. The aim of this study was to assess cirrhosis care in an Australian primary care setting by evaluating rates of cirrhosis diagnosis, appropriate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance and specialist communication.

METHODS

Electronic medical records in consenting general practices were reviewed using the "Liver Toolkit" to identify patients with an existing cirrhosis diagnosis. Individual cases were reviewed to identify outcomes of interest.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy-one patients with confirmed cirrhosis across nine general practices were identified (74% male, mean age: 61.2 years). There was significant variation in the rate of cirrhosis diagnosis between practices (range 31.7-637.9 per 100 000 patients, P < 0.0001). Patients with cirrhosis had predominately compensated disease (75% Child-Pugh A) and common etiologies of cirrhosis were alcohol (49%), hepatitis C (47%), and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (29%). Forty-two patients (25%) had received appropriate HCC surveillance. Predictors of inadequate HCC surveillance were time from last specialist correspondence (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06 per month increase, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.10, P = 0.002) and hepatitis B (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.06-0.98, P = 0.047). Specialist correspondence with primary care was older than 2 years or absent in 37% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a 20-fold difference in the rate of cirrhosis diagnosis between general practices within Sydney, suggesting a large proportion of patients remain undiagnosed. Three quarters of patients with diagnosed cirrhosis are not receiving appropriate HCC surveillance.

The Prognostic Significance of Nativity, Enclave Residence, and Socioeconomic Status Among Hispanic Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Residence in ethnic enclaves and nativity are both associated with survival in Hispanic patients with cancer, although their prognostic significance in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. We aimed to determine the association between nativity, neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES), and ethnic enclave residency with overall survival in Hispanic patients with HCC.

METHODS

Hispanic patients diagnosed with HCC from 2004 to 2017 were identified in the Texas Cancer Registry. Existing indices were applied to tract-level 2000 US Census data to measure enclave residence and nSES. Enclaves were defined by seven measures. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the association between nativity, enclave residency, and nSES with survival.

RESULTS

Among 9496 Hispanic patients with HCC, 2283 (24%) were foreign-born. Compared with US-born Hispanic patients, foreign-born Hispanic patients were less likely to present with localized HCC (45.3% vs. 48.8%, p = 0.03) and less likely to receive HCC treatment (53.9% vs. 47.6%, p < 0.001); however, foreign-born Hispanic patients had lower mortality in adjusted models (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79-0.93). Neighborhood SES, but not enclave residence, was also associated with overall survival. Compared with those in low nSES non-enclaves, Hispanic patients in high nSES neighborhoods, with either enclave (aHR 0.80, 95% CI 0.72-0.88) or non-enclave (aHR 0.89, 95% CI 0.80-0.98) residence status and low nSES enclaves (aHR 0.93, 95% CI 0.86-0.98) had improved survival.

CONCLUSION

In Hispanic patients with HCC, foreign birthplace and higher nSES, but not enclave residence, are associated with improved survival. Additional research on intersectionality between ethnicity, nativity, and neighborhood context is warranted.

Effectiveness of mailed outreach and patient navigation to promote HCC screening process completion: a multicentre pragmatic randomised clinical trial

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.

Impact of social determinants of health on hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance, treatment, and health care costs

BACKGROUND

The impact of clinical factors and social determinants of health on treatment patterns and health care costs among patients with HCC is unknown.

METHODS

Using 100% Medicare Fee-For-Service claims and a commercial multipayor claims database, we identified patients diagnosed with HCC from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2020. Surveillance receipt was defined 12 months prior to HCC diagnosis, whereas treatment and health care costs were assessed post-HCC diagnosis. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association between demographics, social determinants of health, and surveillance or HCC treatment. Multivariable generalized linear regression was used to identify factors associated with total health care costs.

RESULTS

Of the 32,239 patients with HCC (mean age 68 y, 67% male, 73% White), 70% received surveillance and only half (51%) received any treatment. Curative treatment receipt was higher among those with prior surveillance (24% with CT/MRI and 18% with ultrasound vs. 9% with no surveillance). Curative treatment was independently associated with HCC surveillance and inversely associated with Black race, lower education level, and diagnosis in the year 2020 (COVID-19 year). Higher health care costs were independently associated with Black race, low English proficiency, living alone, and diagnosis in 2018-2020, and inversely associated with CT/MRI-based surveillance.

CONCLUSIONS

Race and social determinants of health were independently associated with curative treatment receipt and health care costs. Increasing access to high-quality HCC surveillance may improve treatment receipt and reduce health disparities among patients with HCC.

Barriers to liver transplant referral in safety net settings: A national provider survey

Safety net systems care for patients with a high burden of liver disease yet experience many barriers to liver transplant (LT) referral. This study aimed to assess safety net providers' perspectives on barriers to LT referrals in the United States. We conducted a nationwide anonymous online survey of self-identified safety net gastroenterologists and hepatologists from March through November 2022. This 27-item survey was disseminated via e-mail, society platforms, and social media. Survey sections included practice characteristics, transplant referral practices, perceived multilevel barriers to referral, potential solutions, and respondent characteristics. Fifty complete surveys were included in analysis. A total of 60.0% of respondents self-identified as White and 54.0% male. A total of 90.0% practiced in an urban setting, 82.0% in tertiary medical centers, and 16.0% in community settings, with all 4 US regions represented. Perceived patient-level barriers ranked as most significant, followed by practice-level, then provider-level barriers. Patient-level barriers such as lack of insurance (72.0%), finances (66.0%), social support (66.0%), and stable housing/transportation (64.0%) were ranked as significant barriers to referral, while medical mistrust and lack of interest were not. Limited access to financial services (36.0%) and addiction/mental health resources (34.0%) were considered important practice-level barriers. Few reported existing access to patient navigators (12.0%), and patient navigation was ranked as most likely to improve referral practices, followed by an expedited/expanded pathway for insurance coverage for LT. In this national survey, safety net providers reported the highest barriers to LT referral at the patient level and practice level. These data can inform the development of multilevel interventions in safety net settings to enhance equity in LT access for vulnerable patients.

Screening for Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Survival in Patients With Cirrhosis After Hepatitis C Virus Cure

Importance

The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) declines over time after hepatitis C virus (HCV) cure by direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies. Liver society guidelines recommend continuing HCC screening for these patients, but data on screening outcomes are lacking.

Objective

To evaluate the association of HCC screening after HCV cure with overall survival.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study evaluated patients with HCV cirrhosis who achieved DAA-induced HCV cure in the Veterans Affairs health care system between January 2014 and December 2022. Data analysis occurred from October 2023 to January 2024.

Exposures

The percentage of time spent up to date with recommended HCC screening was calculated by year of follow-up and during the 4 years preceding HCC diagnosis (the detectable asymptomatic phase).

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was overall survival after HCC diagnosis and was compared by percentage of time spent up to date with screening using Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression. Early-stage HCC at diagnosis and curative treatment were secondary outcomes assessed using logistic regression.

Results

A total of 16 902 individuals were included (median [IQR] age, 64.0 [60.5-67.4] years; 16 426 male [97.2%]), of whom 1622 developed HCC. The cumulative incidence of HCC declined from 2.4% (409 of 16 902 individuals) to 1.0% (27 of 2833 individuals) from year 1 to year 7 of follow-up. Being up to date with screening for at least 50% of time during the 4 years preceding HCC diagnosis was associated with improved overall survival (log-rank test of equality over strata P = .002). In multivariate analysis, each 10% increase in follow-up spent up to date with screening was associated with a 3.2% decrease in the hazard of death (hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99). There was a statistically significant interaction between time since HCV cure and screening, with no association observed among those who received a diagnosis of HCC more than 5 years after HCV cure. Each 10% of time spent up to date with screening was associated with a 10.1% increased likelihood of diagnosis with early-stage HCC (95% CI, 6.3%-14.0%) and a 6.8% increased likelihood of curative treatment (95% CI, 2.8%-11.0%).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of persons with HCV-related cirrhosis who achieved HCV cure and subsequently developed HCC, remaining up to date with screening was associated with improved overall survival, supporting the screening of eligible individuals.

Proportion of Time Covered by Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance in Patients With Cirrhosis

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.

Financial Burden of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Screening in Patients With Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

The overall value of hepatocellular carcinoma screening is defined by the balance of benefits and harms. Studies have only reported physical harms with none describing financial harms.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter pragmatic randomized clinical trial of hepatocellular carcinoma screening outreach among 2872 patients with cirrhosis from March 2018 to April 2021. Patients with positive or indeterminate results and matched patients with negative results completed surveys at baseline and at follow-up measuring financial harms via Cancer Self-Administered Questionnaire and financial burden via Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy. Univariable and multivariable longitudinal regression analyses were performed to compare changes in financial harms across groups: true positive, true negative, false positive, and indeterminate. Semistructured interviews were conducted in a subset of patients, sampled by center and test result.

RESULTS

Of 311 patients who completed at least 1 follow-up survey (75% response rate), 37 had true positive, 133 true negative, 64 false positive, and 77 indeterminate results. Financial harms increased in true positive and false positive patients with no significant changes noted among those with true negative or indeterminate results. At follow-up, 21.8% of patients reported moderate-severe financial burden, which was not significantly associated with test results. Semistructured interviews revealed variation in the frequency and severity of financial harms based on test results, with increased harm in those with false positive results.

CONCLUSIONS

Financial harms of hepatocellular carcinoma screening vary by test result and can pose a barrier that must be considered when determining the optimal screening program.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Patterns and Outcomes in Patients With Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance is associated with improved early detection and reduced mortality, although practice patterns and effectiveness vary in clinical practice. We aimed to characterize HCC surveillance patterns in a large, diverse cohort of patients with HCC.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with HCC between January 2008 and December 2022 at 2 large US health systems. We recorded imaging receipt in the year before HCC diagnosis: ultrasound plus α-fetoprotein (AFP), ultrasound alone, multiphasic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and no liver imaging. We used multivariable logistic and Cox regression analysis to compare early tumor detection, curative treatment receipt, and overall survival between surveillance strategies.

RESULTS

Among 2028 patients with HCC (46.7% Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage A), 703 (34.7%) had ultrasound plus AFP, 293 (14.5%) had ultrasound alone, 326 (16.1%) had multiphasic CT/MRI, and 706 (34.8%) had no imaging in the year before HCC diagnosis. Over the study period, proportions without imaging were stable, whereas use of CT/MRI increased. Compared with no imaging, CT/MRI and ultrasound plus AFP, but not ultrasound alone, were associated with early stage HCC detection and curative treatment. Compared with ultrasound alone, CT/MRI and ultrasound plus AFP were associated with increased early stage detection.

CONCLUSIONS

HCC surveillance patterns vary in clinical practice and are associated with differing clinical outcomes. While awaiting data to determine if CT or MRI surveillance can be performed in a cost-effective manner in selected patients, AFP has a complementary role to ultrasound-based surveillance, supporting its adoption in practice guidelines.

A randomized trial of mailed outreach with behavioral economic interventions to improve liver cancer surveillance

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.

Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance may be associated with potential psychological harms in patients with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The value of HCC surveillance is determined by the balance between benefits and harms; however, no studies have enumerated psychological harms.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

We fielded surveys measuring psychological harms to patients with cirrhosis in a multicenter randomized trial of HCC surveillance outreach. All patients with positive or indeterminate surveillance results and matched patients with negative results were invited to complete surveys measuring (1) depression through the Patient Health Questionnaire-ninth version, (2) anxiety through State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, (3) HCC-specific worry through Psychological Consequences Questionnaire, and (4) decisional regret. Patients were classified into 4 groups: true positive (TP), false positive (FP), indeterminate, and true negative (TN). Multivariable longitudinal regression analysis using the generalized estimating equation method was performed to compare the means of measures across groups. We conducted 89 semistructured interviews in a subset of patients stratified by health system and test results. Of 2872 patients in the trial, 311 completed 1+ follow-up survey (63 FP, 77 indeterminate, 38 TP, and 133 TN). Moderate depression decreased in TN patients, increased in TP, and had intermittent but mild increases in those with FP and indeterminate results. High anxiety temporarily increased in patients with TP results but resolved over time and was stable in those with FP and indeterminate results. Decisional regret was low and did not differ across groups. In semistructured interviews, patients reported apprehension, anxiety, emotional distress, and coping related to HCC surveillance.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological harms of HCC surveillance appear mild but differ by test result. Future research should determine the impact of psychological harms on the value of HCC surveillance programs.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance: Evidence-Based Tailored Approach

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.

Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance - utilization, barriers and the impact of changing aetiology

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Surveillance for HCC is critical for early detection and treatment, but fewer than one-quarter of individuals at risk of HCC undergo surveillance. Multiple failures across the screening process contribute to the underutilization of surveillance, including limited disease awareness among patients and health-care providers, knowledge gaps, and difficulty recognizing patients who are at risk. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcohol-associated liver disease are the fastest-rising causes of HCC-related death worldwide and are associated with unique barriers to surveillance. In particular, more than one-third of patients with HCC related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease do not have cirrhosis and therefore lack a routine indication for HCC surveillance on the basis of current practice guidelines. Semi-annual abdominal ultrasound with measurement of α-fetoprotein levels is recommended for HCC surveillance, but the sensitivity of this approach for early HCC is limited, especially for patients with cirrhosis or obesity. In this Review, we discuss the current status of HCC surveillance and the remaining challenges, including the changing aetiology of liver disease. We also discuss strategies to improve the utilization and quality of surveillance for HCC.

Global trends in hepatocellular carcinoma epidemiology: implications for screening, prevention and therapy

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.

Care for Vulnerable Populations with Chronic Liver Disease: A Safety-Net Perspective

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.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Prevention in the Era of Hepatitis C Elimination

The hepatitis C virus (HCV), a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family, is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. Tumors caused by HCC have an increased mortality rate globally, which is more accentuated in Western countries. The carcinogenic potential of this virus is mediated through a wide range of mechanisms, spanning from the induction of chronic inflammation to oxidative stress and deregulation of cellular pathways by viral proteins. As the number of new infections continues unabated, HCC-related mortality should be prioritized through early detection, continued prevention of HCV transmission, and treatment of HCV with safe and efficacious direct antiviral agents (DAAs). People who inject drugs (PWID) are a significant reservoir of new HCV infections globally, and in order to eliminate hepatitis C as a global health threat, as set out by the World Health Organization, an integrated approach based on the optimization of care delivery and increased access to harm reduction and treatment for PWID is needed. Thanks to the development of safe and effective antiviral agents, eradication of the infection is now possible in almost all treated patients, leading to a significant reduction but not the elimination of the risk for HCC in cured patients. This is particularly relevant among aged populations who have cofactors of morbidity known to accelerate HCC progression, such as diabetes, obesity, and excessive alcohol consumption. Given the restless accumulation of individuals with cured HCV infection, the implementation of risk-stratified surveillance programs becomes impellent from a cost-effectiveness perspective, whereas the availability of a performant biomarker to predict HCC in cured patients remains an unmet clinical need.

Addressing racial and ethnic disparities in US liver cancer care

HCC, the most common form of primary liver cancer, is the fastest rising cause of cancer-related death in the United States. HCC disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. A practical framework is needed to organize the complex patient, provider, health system, and societal factors that drive these racial and ethnic disparities. In this narrative review, we adapted and applied the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Framework to the HCC care continuum, as a step toward better understanding and addressing existing HCC-related disparities. We first summarize the literature on HCC-related disparities by race and ethnicity organized by the framework's 5 domains (biological, behavioral, physical/built environment, sociocultural environment, and health care system) and 4 levels (individual, interpersonal, community, and societal) of influence. We then offer strategies to guide future research initiatives toward promotion of health equity in HCC care. Clinicians and researchers may help mitigate further inequities and better address racial and ethnic disparities in HCC care by prioritizing the following in HCC research: (1) increasing racial and ethnic minority representation, (2) collecting and reporting HCC-related data by racial and ethnic subgroups, (3) assessing the patient experience of HCC care by race and ethnicity, and (4) evaluating HCC-specific social determinants of health by race and ethnicity. These 4 priorities will help inform the development of future programs and interventions that are tailored to the unique experiences of each racial and ethnic group.

Opportunities to address gaps in early detection and improve outcomes of liver cancer

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.

Multidisciplinary care for patients with HCC: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Given the complexity of managing HCC, professional society guidelines advocate multidisciplinary care (MDC) for patients with HCC. However, implementation of MDC programs requires a significant investment of time and resources. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to enumerate potential benefits of MDC for patients with HCC.

METHODS

We conducted a search of the PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE databases and national conference abstracts to identify studies published after January 2005 that reported early-stage presentation, treatment receipt, or overall survival among patients with HCC, stratified by MDC status. We calculated pooled risk ratios and HRs for clinical outcomes according to MDC receipt using the DerSimonian and Laird method for random effects models.

RESULTS

We identified 12 studies (n = 15,365 patients with HCC) with outcomes stratified by MDC status. MDC was associated with improved overall survival (HR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.45-0.88); however, its association with curative treatment receipt was not statistically significant (risk ratio = 1.60, 95% CI: 0.89-2.89) and pooled estimates were limited by high heterogeneity (I2 > 90% for both). Studies (n = 3) were discordant regarding an association between MDC and time-to-treatment initiation. MDC was associated with early-stage HCC (risk ratio = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.12-2.29), suggesting possible referral bias contributing to improved outcomes. Limitations of studies also included risk of residual confounding, loss to follow-up, and data preceding the availability of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

MDC for patients with HCC is associated with improved overall survival, underscoring the likely benefit of managing patients with HCC in a multidisciplinary care setting.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Incidence in Alcohol-Associated Cirrhosis: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Alcohol is one of the leading causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, pooled estimates of HCC incidence in alcohol-associated cirrhosis have not been evaluated systematically. We performed a pooled analysis of time-to-event data to provide robust estimates for the incidence of HCC in alcohol-associated cirrhosis.

METHODS

Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception to August 2021. Individual patient data were reconstructed from published Kaplan-Meier curves, and a pooled analysis of cumulative HCC incidence was performed using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

We screened 5022 articles and included 18 studies (148,333 patients). In the pooled analysis, the cumulative incidence of HCC in alcohol-associated cirrhosis at 1, 5, and 10 years among studies that accounted for the competing risk of death without HCC was 1%, 3%, and 9%, respectively. A secondary analysis by traditional meta-analysis determined that the HCC incidence rate was higher in cohorts enrolled in a HCC surveillance program (18.6 vs 4.8 per 1000 person-years; P = .001) vs those who were not enrolled in a surveillance program. Meta-regression showed that diabetes, smoking, variceal bleeding, and hepatic decompensation were associated with a higher risk of HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis determined that the 5- and 10- year cumulative risk of HCC in alcohol-associated cirrhosis was 3% and 9%, respectively, with a higher incidence in cohorts that were enrolled in a HCC surveillance program. These data should be validated further in large prospective studies, and may have important implications for HCC screening and surveillance among patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis.

Patient Navigation Increases Linkage to Care and Receipt of Direct-acting Antiviral Therapy in Patients with Hepatitis C

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patient navigation interventions can improve health outcomes in underserved, low-income, and racial and ethnic minority groups, who often experience health disparities. We examined the effectiveness of patient navigation to improve linkage to hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment receipt in a socioeconomically disadvantaged, racially diverse patient population.

METHODS

We performed a pre-post analysis evaluating the effectiveness of a patient navigation program among baby boomers who tested positive for HCV in a safety-net health system. The usual care group (June 2013 to May 2015) and patient navigation group (January 2016 to December 2017) were balanced using a stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting approach. We used logistic regression analyses to evaluate associations between patient navigation and linkage to care for HCV treatment evaluation, treatment initiation, and sustained virologic response.

RESULTS

Among 1353 patients (62% black, 61% uninsured, 16% homeless), 769 were in the usual care group, and 584 were in the patient navigation group. The patient navigation group had significantly higher odds of linkage to care (odds ratio [OR], 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.9-4.8) and treatment initiation (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 2.3-4.2) within 6 months. The patient navigation group continued to have increased linkage to care (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 2.7-4.3) and treatment initiation (OR 2.3; 95% CI, 1.7-3.0) at 12 months. However, there was no significant difference in sustained virologic response between the groups (86.9% vs 86.1%; P = .78).

CONCLUSIONS

Patient navigation was associated with significantly increased linkage to care and treatment initiation among patients with HCV infection. Patient navigation programs can be used to promote HCV elimination among traditionally difficult-to-reach patient populations.

Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

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.

Blood-based biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma screening: Approaching the end of the ultrasound era?

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.

Gaps in hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in a United States cohort of insured patients with cirrhosis

OBJECTIVE

Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known to be underutilized; however, neither the variation of surveillance adherence by cirrhosis etiology nor the patient-side economic burden of surveillance are well understood. To identify potential barriers to HCC surveillance, we assessed utilization patterns and costs among US patients with cirrhosis monitored in routine clinical practice.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of insured adult patients with cirrhosis using national administrative claims data from January 2013 through June 2019. Time up-to-date with recommended surveillance, correlates of surveillance receipt, and surveillance-associated costs were assessed during a ≥ 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Among 15,543 patients with cirrhosis (mean [SD] age 64.0 [11.1] years, 50.7% male), 45.8% and 58.7% had received any abdominal imaging at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Patients were up-to-date with recommended surveillance for only 31% of a median 1.3-year follow-up. Those with viral hepatitis were more likely to receive surveillance than those with other etiologies (hazard ratio [HR] 1.55, 95% CI 1.11-2.17, p = .010 for patients without a baseline gastroenterologist [GI] visit and 2.69, 95% CI 1.77-4.09, p < .001 for patients with a GI visit, relative to those with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and no GI visit). For all etiologies except NAFLD, the HR (95% CI) for surveillance receipt was higher among patients with vs without a baseline GI visit (alcohol-related, 1.164 [1.002-1.351] vs 0.880 [0.796-0.972]; viral hepatitis, 2.688 [1.765-4.093] vs 1.553 [1.111-2.171]; Other, 0.612 [0.519-0.722] vs 0.549 [0.470-0.641]). Mean total and patient-paid daily surveillance-related costs ranged from $540 and $113, respectively (ultrasound) to $1580 and $300, respectively (magnetic resonance imaging), and mean estimated patient productivity costs were $730-$2514 annually.

CONCLUSION

HCC surveillance was underutilized and was lowest among patients with nonviral etiologies and those who had not seen a gastroenterologist. Surveillance-related out-of-pocket expenses and lost productivity were substantial. The development of surveillance strategies that reduce patient burden, such as those using blood-based biomarkers, may help improve surveillance adherence and effectiveness.

Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma: roadmap for improvement

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.