Canadian trends in liver cancer: a brief clinical and epidemiologic overview

Stigmatization of drinking patients with liver cancer: The role of socioeconomic status

Patients with liver cancer may face stigmatization due to cancer, alcohol consumption, or both. This study addresses gaps in the existing literature regarding stigmatization of alcohol-related liver cancer patients, particularly its connection with socioeconomic status (SES). The study explores whether the SES of a fictional character with alcohol addiction and liver cancer influences stigma levels reported by participants. Additionally, it investigates how participants' personal characteristics, such as alcohol consumption and healthcare professional status, impact stigmatization. This study aims to provide new insights regarding the role of stigmatization in liver cancer treatment and management, emphasizing in socioeconomic determinants. The method is based on three scenarios describing a woman character with alcohol abuse and liver cancer. The scenarios depicted a woman character with either low, medium or high SES. Each participant (N = 991) was randomly assigned to one of the three scenarios. After reading it, each participant answered questionnaires assessing negative attitudes towards the character. Four scales were used: "Negative attributions about people with health problems", "Causality of cancer", "Controllability of drinking" and "Reluctance to helping behavior". Data were analyzed using ANOVA and t-tests. The scenario describing a character with a low SES significantly received more "Negative attributions about people with health problems" than the character with medium or high SES. Participants having higher alcohol consumption themselves showed lower stigma scores for three out of four scales than participants with lower consumption. In addition, participants identified as health professionals had lower stigma scores regarding the scales "Negative attributions about people with health problems" and "Controllability of drinking", and higher scores for the subscale "Reluctance to helping behavior", compared with non-professionals. A character with low SES received more negative attributions than the one with higher SES. Participants' own alcohol consumption and professional status (being health professional or not), influenced their stigmatizing attitudes.

Criteria to define rare diseases and orphan drugs: a systematic review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Rare diseases (RDs) are often chronic and progressive life-threatening medical conditions that affect a low percentage of the population compared with other diseases. These conditions can be treated with medications known as orphan drugs (ODs). Unfortunately, there is no universal definition of RDs or ODs. This systematic review (SR) will identify the quantitative and qualitative criteria and the underlying rationale used internationally to define RDs and ODs.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This protocol follows the conventions for the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (2015 guidelines). A SR will be conducted, including a search of the following databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, GreyLit and OpenGrey. Eligible publications will be selected based on predetermined inclusion criteria. Extracted data will be analysed using thematic and content analyses of qualitative descriptors, whereas quantitative data will be analysed descriptively and reported in the form of frequencies and percentages.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

No ethical approval is required since this SR focuses on the secondary analysis of data retrieved from the scientific literature. The outcomes of this SR will be published as part of a PhD thesis, presented at conferences, and published in peer-reviewed journals.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021252701.

Preliminary evaluation of alpha-emitting radioembolization in animal models of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary liver cancer and the fifth most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide. Most patients with advanced disease are offered non-surgical palliative treatment options. This work explores the first alpha-particle emitting radioembolization for the treatment and monitoring of hepatic tumors. Furthermore, this works demonstrates the first in vivo simultaneous multiple-radionuclide SPECT-images of the complex decay chain of an [225Ac]Ac-labeled agent using a clinical SPECT system to monitor the temporal distribution. A DOTA chelator was modified with a lipophilic moiety and radiolabeled with the α-particle emitter Actinium-225. The resulting agent, [225Ac]Ac-DOTA-TDA, was emulsified in ethiodized oil and evaluated in vivo in mouse model and the VX2 rabbit technical model of liver cancer. SPECT imaging was performed to monitor distribution of the TAT agent and the free daughters. The [225Ac]Ac-DOTA-TDA emulsion was shown to retain within the HEP2G tumors and VX2 tumor, with minimal uptake within normal tissue. In the mouse model, significant improvements in overall survival were observed. SPECT-imaging was able to distinguish between the Actinium-225 agent (Francium-221) and the loss of the longer lived daughter, Bismuth-213. An α-particle emitting TARE agent is capable of targeting liver tumors with minimal accumulation in normal tissue, providing a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma as well as a variety of hepatic tumors. In addition, SPECT-imaging presented here supports the further development of imaging methodology and protocols that can be incorporated into the clinic to monitor Actinium-225-labeled agents.

Internal medicine hospitalisations and liver disease: a comparative disease burden analysis of a multicentre cohort

BACKGROUND

Liver disease is an increasing burden on population health globally.

AIMS

To characterise burden of liver disease among general internal medicine inpatients at seven Toronto-area hospitals and compare it to other common medical conditions.

METHODS

Data from April 2010 to October 2017 were obtained from hospitals participating in the GEMINI collaborative. Using these cohort data from hospital information systems linked to administrative data, we defined liver disease admissions using most responsible discharge diagnoses categorised according to international classification of diseases, 10th Revision-enhanced Canadian version (ICD-10-CA). We identified admissions for heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia as comparators. We calculated standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) as the ratio of observed to expected deaths.

RESULTS

Among 239 018 discharges, liver disease accounted for 1.7% of most responsible discharge diagnoses. Liver disease was associated with marked premature mortality, with SMR of 8.84 (95% CI 8.06-9.67) compared to 1.06 (95% CI 0.99-1.12) for heart failure, 1.05 (95% CI 0.96-1.15) for COPD and 1.28 (95% CI 1.20-1.37) for pneumonia. The majority of deaths were among patients younger than 65 years (57.7%) compared to 3.3% in heart failure, 5.6% in COPD and 10.7% in pneumonia. Liver disease patients presented with worse Laboratory-Based Acute Physiology Scores, were more frequently admitted to the intensive care unit (14.4%), incurred higher average total costs (median $6723 CAD), had higher in-hospital mortality (11.4%), and were more likely to be a readmission from 30 days prior (19.8%). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease admissions increased from 120 in 2011-2012 to 215 in 2016-2017 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

In Canada's largest urban centre, liver disease admissions resulted in premature morbidity and mortality with higher resource use compared to common cardio-respiratory conditions. Re-evaluation of approaches to caring for inpatients with liver disease is timely and justified.

US LI-RADS Visualization Score: Interobserver Variability and Association With Cause of Liver Disease, Sex, and Body Mass Index

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the interobserver agreement between radiologists using the Ultrasound Liver Reporting And Data System (US LI-RADS) visualization score and assess association between visualization score and cause of liver disease, sex, and body mass index (BMI).

METHODS

This retrospective, single institution, cross-sectional study evaluated 237 consecutive hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance US examinations between March 4, 2017 and September 4, 2017. Five abdominal radiologists independently assigned a US LI-RADS visualization score (A, no or minimal limitations; B, moderate limitations; C, severe limitations). Interobserver agreement was assessed with a weighted Kappa statistic. Association between US visualization score (A vs B or C) and cause of liver disease, sex, and BMI (< or ≥ 25 kg/m²) was evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The average weighted Kappa statistic for all raters was 0.51. A score of either B or C was assigned by the majority of radiologists in 148/237 cases and was significantly associated with cause of liver disease (P = 0.014) and elevated BMI (P < 0.001). Subjects with viral liver disease were 3.32 times (95% CI: 1.44-8.38) more likely to have a score of A than those with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (P = 0.007). The adjusted odds ratio of visualization score A was 0.249 (95% CI: 0.13-0.48) among those whose BMI was ≥25 kg/m² vs. BMI < 25 kg/m².

CONCLUSION

Interobserver agreement between radiologists using US LI-RADS score was moderate. The majority of US examinations were scored as having moderate or severe limitations, and this was significantly associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and increased BMI.

Effect of sorafenib starting dose and dose intensity on survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Results from a Canadian Multicenter Database

Background

Sorafenib has been shown to improve survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however, full dose can be difficult to tolerate. The aim of this study was to determine whether sorafenib starting dose and mean dose intensity affect survival.

Methods

Patients treated with sorafenib for HCC from January 2008 to July 2016 in several Canadian provinces were included and retrospectively analyzed. The primary end point was overall survival (OS) of patients starting on sorafenib full dose compared to reduced dose. Secondary analysis compared OS with different mean dose‐intensity groups. Survival outcomes were assessed with Kaplan‐Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models. A propensity score analysis was performed to account for treatment bias and confounding.

Results

Of 681 patients included, sorafenib was started at full dose in 289 patients (42%). Median survival for starting full and reduced dose was 9.4 months and 8.9 months (P = .15) respectively. After propensity score matching and adjusting for potential confounders there was still no difference in survival (HR 0.8, 95% CI, 0.61‐1.06, P = .12). Almost half of the patients (45%) received a dose intensity < 50%. Median survival for mean dose intensity > 75%, 50%‐75%, and < 50% were 9.5 months, 12.9 months, and 7.1 months (P = .005) respectively. In multivariable models, starting dose(HR 1.16, 95% CI 0.93‐1.44, P = .180) and mean dose intensity were not associated with survival.

Conclusions

Starting HCC patients on a reduced dose of sorafenib compared to full dose may not compromise survival. Mean dose‐intensity of sorafenib may also not affect survival.

Disease burden of liver cancer in China from 1997 to 2016: an observational study based on the Global Burden of Diseases

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the trends in disease burden and the epidemiological features of liver cancer in China while identifying potential strategies to lower the disease burden.

DESIGN

Observational study based on the Global Burden of Diseases.

PARTICIPANTS

Data were publicly available and de-identified and individuals were not involved.

MEASUREMENT AND METHODS

To measure the liver cancer burden, we extracted data from the Global Health Data Exchange using the metrics of prevalence, incidence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Joinpoint and negative binomial regressions were applied to identify trends and risk factors.

RESULTS

From 1997 to 2016, the prevalence, incidence, mortality and DALYs of liver cancer in China were from 28.22/100 000 to 60.04/100 000, from 27.33/100 000 to 41.40/100 000, from 27.40/100 000 to 31.49/100 000 and from 10 311 308 to 11 539 102, respectively. The prevalence, incidence and mortality were increasing, with the average annual percent changes (AAPCs) of 4.0% (95% CI 3.9% to 4.2%), 2.1% (95% CI 2.0% to 2.2%) and 0.5% (95% CI 0.2% to 0.9%), respectively. Meanwhile, the rate of DALYs was stable with the AAPCs of -0.1% (95% CI -0.4% to 0.3%). The mortality-to-incidence ratio of liver cancer decreased from 1.00 in 1997 to 0.76 in 2016 (β=-0.014, p<0.0001). Males (OR: 2.98, 95% CI 2.68 to 3.30 for prevalence, OR: 2.45, 95% CI 2.21 to 2.71 for incidence) and the elderly individuals (OR: 1.57, 95% CI 1.55 to 1.59 for prevalence, OR: 1.58, 95% CI 1.56 to 1.60 for incidence) had a higher risk. Hepatitis B accounted for the highest proportion of liver cancer cases (55.11%) and deaths (54.13%).

CONCLUSIONS

The disease burden of liver cancer continued to increase in China with viral factors as one of the leading causes. Strategies such as promoting hepatitis B vaccinations, blocking the transmission of hepatitis C and reducing alcohol consumption should be prioritised.

Hospital stays for hepatitis B or C virus infection or primary liver cancer among immigrants: a census-linked population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

The recent increase in the incidence of primary liver cancer in Canada has been attributed to a higher proportion of immigrants from countries endemic for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). We examined hospital discharges for liver disease in Canada, focusing on those for all liver-related diseases, HBV infection, HCV infection and primary liver cancer, by 3 immigration-related variables: immigration status, duration of residence in Canada and risk level of the source country.

METHODS

We calculated annualized crude and age-standardized rates of a hospital stay in Canada for HBV infection, HCV infection, primary liver cancer and all liver-related diseases using data from the 2006 Canadian census (long form) linked to the Canadian Institute for Health Information Discharge Abstract Database for fiscal years 2006/07 to 2008/09. We estimated the odds of a hospital stay using logistic regression for the 3 immigration-related variables, adjusting for sociodemographic indicators.

RESULTS

Immigrants were less likely than Canadian-born residents to be discharged with a diagnosis of any liver-related condition (odds ratio [OR] 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78-0.89); however, they were more likely to be discharged with a diagnosis of HBV infection (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.57-2.60) and primary liver cancer (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.22-1.68). There was a clear association between a hospital stay for HBV infection and immigration from HBV-endemic countries (OR 5.15, 95% CI 3.87-6.84) and between a stay for HCV infection and immigration from HCV-endemic countries (OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.74-5.11). Adjustment for low income status and urban residence did not change the results.

INTERPRETATION

Although the odds of a liver-related hospital stay were lower among immigrants than among those born in Canada, immigrants from countries at high risk for HBV infection, HCV infection and primary liver cancer were more likely than Canadian-born residents to have a corresponding liver-related hospital stay. These findings emphasize the importance of identifying immigrants with hepatitis and engaging them in care to prevent complications.

Trends in incidence, mortality, and survival for kidney cancer in Canada, 1986-2007

Purpose

Kidney cancer is one of the fastest rising cancers worldwide. We aimed to examine the trends in incidence, mortality, and survival for this cancer in Canada.

Methods

Incidence data for kidney cancer for 1986–2010 were from the Canadian Cancer Registry and the National Cancer Incidence Reporting System. These data were only available up to 2007 for the province of Quebec and consequently for the same year nationally, for Canada. Mortality data for 1986–2009 were from the Canadian Vital Statistics Death Database. Changes in age-standardized rates were analyzed by Joinpoint regression. Incidence rates were projected to 2025 using a Nordpred age-period-cohort model. Five-year relative survival ratios (RSR) were analyzed for 2004–2008 and earlier periods.

Results

Between 1986 and 2007, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) per 100,000 rose from 13.4 to 17.9 in males and 7.7 to 10.3 in females. Annual increases in ASIR were greatest for age groups <65 years (males) and ≥65 years (females). The ASIRs increased significantly over time in both sexes for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) but not for other kidney cancer types. RCC rates are projected to increase until at least 2025. Mortality rates decreased only slightly in each sex since 1986 (0.4 %/year in males; 0.8 %/year in females). The 5-year RSR for kidney cancer was 68 % but differed largely by morphology and age, and has increased slightly over time.

Conclusions

The incidence rate of kidney cancer in Canada has risen since at least 1986, led largely by RCC. Increasing detection of incidental tumors, and growing obesity and hypertension rates are possible factors associated with this increase. Greater prevention of modifiable risk factors for kidney cancer is needed.