Andrew Moon, MD, MPH, fellow in the division of gasteroenterology and hepatology, and Louise Henderson, PhD, professor of radiology, were recently awarded a $150K grant from the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC) for a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening project. Sid Barritt, MD, MSCR, associate professor of medicine in gastroenterology and hepatology is a co-investigator.
The two-year, pre-pilot project “Improving hepatocellular carcinoma screening among cirrhosis patients from North Carolina using lab-based risk stratification tools” will begin in March. Collaborators will investigate factors driving low utilization of HCC surveillance across North Carolina with serial ultrasound +/- serum alpha-fetoprotein in patients with cirrhosis, for whom HCC surveillance is recommended.
Through prescribing direct acting antivirals (DAAs), providers can treat and cure Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a leading cause of HCC and cirrhosis. Such disease management of HCV-cured patients can overlook evaluation for cirrhosis, however, resulting in missed HCC surveillance opportunities. HCC risk stratification models that utilize standard of care HCV lab results should improve the identification of HCV patients at risk of HCC and increase HCC surveillance rates.
Over two years, the researchers will assess current HCC surveillance practices across North Carolina through validating existing lab-based HCC risk stratification tools among HCV-treated patients. Surveying community providers to assess attitudes and behaviors toward HCC surveillance will aid the investigators in identifying those interested in participating in a subsequent pilot to test using point-of-care HCC risk stratification tools.
Through data-driven results indicating how community care settings might incorporate HCC risk stratification tools in patient management, this feasibility study aims to assist community PCPs, gastroenterologists, public health leaders, researchers and other stakeholders across North Carolina in identifying high-risk patients for referral to active HCC screening programs, particularly in resource-limited areas.
Read more about this project in Department of Radiology news.