Oncology News

SAN FRANCISCO — In the pre–direct-acting antiviral era, risk of hepatocellular carcinoma remained slightly elevated in those patients with hepatitis C virus who achieved SVR, according to a presentation at The Liver Meeting 2015. That risk was further elevated in those patients who were older, with cirrhosis, diabetes and previous genotype 3 disease.

SAN FRANCISCO — Vitamin K administered to patients at the time of treatment with Nexavar for hepatocellular carcinoma increased overall and progression-free survival, according to data presented at The Liver Meeting 2015.

SAN FRANCISCO — In patients geographically removed from tertiary care centers, the creation of a regional multidisciplinary tumor board decreased the time from first abnormality to treatment by 25 days, cutting time from abnormality to specialist consult in half, according to a poster presentation at The Liver Meeting 2015.

In a recently released editorial, experts speculated on whether the results of a Japanese study could have implications for circulating tumor DNA serving as a biomarker and guiding care of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Researchers in The Netherlands found that surveillance before hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis improved overall survival in real-life practice, as well as decreased tumor size and increased surgical therapy time, according to study data published in the Journal of Hepatology. 

Researchers in France confirmed that hepatitis B and C cause most cases of hepatocellular carcinoma in nearly all world areas.

Researchers in Italy found that the use of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers known as sartans improved overall survival and delayed time to recurrence for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, according to published findings.

Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that treatment on the Enhanced Recovery in Liver Surgery pathway enabled patients to recover and return to normal life functioning sooner compared with traditional pathway treatment after liver surgery, according to published findings.

Improving the usefulness of liver transplants, a biomarker correctly predicted microvascular invasion in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, according to recent data.

HONOLULU — Patients with hepatitis C virus infection who achieved a sustained virologic response after curative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma had increased overall survival with a decreased rate of recurrence, according to findings presented at ACG 2015.