Sustained virologic response to direct-acting antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C and hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background & Aims: The effect of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on the response to interferon-free direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection remains unclear. Using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach, we aimed to investigate the effect of DAA therapy on sustained virologic response (SVR) among patients with CHC and either active, inactive or no HCC.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from 1/1/2013 to 9/24/2018.

FACT-Hep increases the accuracy of survival prediction in HCC patients when added to ECOG Performance Status.

Background And Aim: The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) is a strong predictor of survival for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and is used with liver function and tumour burden in the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system. This work assesses whether the health-related quality of life (HRQL), measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary (FACT-Hep) questionnaire, discriminates HCC patients in terms of survival and adds prognostic information to ECOG PS.

Methods: A total of 242 patients participating in the prospective Bern HCC Cohort at the University Hospital Bern were analysed.

Effect of smoking on survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity and physical activity have gained interest in the field of hepatocellular carcinoma. These factors play a significant role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Several studies revealed the impact of tobacco consumption on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma and its synergistic effects with viral etiologies (hepatitis B and C).

A new method for estimating patient body weight using CT dose modulation data.

Background: Body weight (BW) is a relevant metric in emergency care. However, visual/physical methods to estimate BW are unreliable. We have developed a method for estimating BW based on effective mAs (mAs) from computed tomography (CT) dose modulation.

Surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with NASH.

European and American guidelines recommend surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by performing ultrasonography on a six-month basis on an at risk population, defined by presence of cirrhosis. HCC, due to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is rising. Patients with NASH have a high risk of developing HCC and, therefore, have to be enrolled in a screening program.

Assessment of the Hong Kong Liver Cancer Staging System in Europe.

Background & Aims: European and American guidelines have endorsed the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of the recently developed Hong Kong Liver Cancer (HKLC) classification as a staging system for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Europe.

Methods: We used a pooled set of 1693 HCC patients combining three prospective European cohorts.

Treatment allocation in hepatocellular carcinoma: Assessment of the BCLC algorithm.

Background And Aims: The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system is the algorithm most widely used to manage patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to investigate the extent to which the BCLC recommendations effectively guide clinical practice and assess the reasons for any deviation from the recommendations.

Material And Methods: The first-line treatments assigned to patients included in the prospective Bern HCC cohort were analyzed.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Problem of Growing Magnitude.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a cancer with globally rising incidence. Growing evidence supports associations between metabolic syndrome and diabetes as well as obesity and HCC arising in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This constitutes a problem of alarming magnitude given the rising epidemic of these conditions.

Hepatocellular carcinoma and lifestyles.

The majority of hepatocellular carcinoma occurs over pre-existing chronic liver diseases that share cirrhosis as an endpoint. In the last decade, a strong association between lifestyle and hepatocellular carcinoma has become evident. Abundance of energy-rich food and sedentary lifestyles have caused metabolic conditions such as obesity and diabetes mellitus to become global epidemics.