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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jessica P. Hwang, MD, MPH, General Internal Medicine, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd.- Unit 437, Houston, TX 77030, 713-745-4516, jphwang@mdanderson.org and Manal M. Hassan, MD, PhD, Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. - Unit 426, Houston, TX 77030.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a known carcinogen for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Of the 1.5 million Americans with chronic HBV, over half are Asian and Pacific Islander (API) individuals. Aim: To describe characteristics of API patients with HCC referred for treatment at a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Methods: All API patients with HCC were identified from an existing, Institutional Review Board-approved, HCC database at our institution. Results: Between 1992 and 2004, 75 API patients with HCC were referred (44% Vietnamese, 29% Chinese, and 16% Koreans). Of these, 58% were male. The prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBc was 63% and 92%, respectively. There was no significant change in the prevalence of HBsAg among API HCC patients over the 12 year period. The majority of patients had cancer stage IV at presentation (63%). Moreover, 37% did not receive any treatment after presentation. Survival was found to be significant for the group overall (7.4 months), for those who were treated (9.2 months), and for those who were not treated (3.9 months). Conclusions: The burden of HBV-associated HCC has not declined over our study period, despite decreases in other populations. API patients with HCC continue to present with late stage disease, making treatment options limited, and survival dismal. The API community needs education and screening interventions. Medical providers need to systematically screen their API patients. HBV detection, treatment, surveillance, and hepatology referral in the early stage of disease are mandatory to reduce the burden of HBV-associated HCC.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this session, the participant in this session will be able to
• 1. Describe demographic and clinical characteristics of Asian Pacific Islander (API) patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatocellular cancer (HCC).
• 2. Recognize that HBV-associated HCC among API patients has not declined in the recent 12 years.
• 3. Articulate that HBV awareness, prevention, and early detection are integral in reducing the burden of HCC in the API community.

Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander, Hepatitis B

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered