Many US patients with liver cancer—even those with early stage disease that can often be cured—do not receive treatment for their disease, according to an analysis of studies published between 1989 and 2013.
Less than one fourth of patients undergo curative treatment, and nearly 50% do not receive any treatment. Elderly, non-Caucasians and patients of low socioeconomic status had lower treatment rates than their counterparts.
"We found the low treatment rates among patients with early stage tumors particularly concerning. Many of these patients currently fail to receive any treatment despite having curative treatment options that could afford long-term survival," said Dr. Amit Singal, senior author of the Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics paper. "These findings highlight the urgent need for interventions such as multidisciplinary management clinics to optimize treatment of patients with primary liver cancer."
Explore further: Screening for liver cancer in patients with cirrhosis
More information: Tan, D., Yopp, A., Beg, M. S., Gopal, P. and Singal, A. G. (2013), Meta-analysis: underutilisation and disparities of treatment among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 38: 703–712. DOI: 10.1111/apt.12450
Medical Xpress on facebook
Related Stories
Screening for liver cancer in patients with cirrhosis
Apr 01, 2014
In a systematic review and meta-analysis of 47 studies with 15,158 patients, Amit Singal (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) and colleagues found that patients with cirrhosis who underwent surveillance (via ...
Liver cancer screening highly beneficial for people with cirrhosis
May 05, 2014
Liver cancer survival rates could be improved if more people with cirrhosis are screened for tumors using inexpensive ultrasound scans and blood tests, according to a review by doctors at UT Southwestern ...
Trial shows improved overall survival for patients with liver cancer not amenable to surgery
Sep 08, 2014
The mature results from a trial conducted by the Asia-Pacific Hepatocellular Carcinoma Trials Group led by the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and Singapore General Hospital (SGH) have shown that patients who suffer ...
Drug shows promise for subset of stage III colon cancer patients
Aug 28, 2014
A subset of patients with stage III colon cancer had improved survival rates when treated with irinotecan-based therapy, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Associ ...
Racial disparities in the surgical management of non-small cell lung cancer
May 21, 2013
The surgical management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in U.S. hospitals varies widely depending on the race of the patient, according to a new study.
Recommended for you
Tumors might grow faster at night: Hormone that keeps us alert also suppresses the spread of cancer
2 hours ago
They emerge at night, while we sleep unaware, growing and spreading out as quickly as they can. And they are deadly. In a surprise finding that was recently published in Nature Communications, Weizmann Instit ...
'JAKing' up blood cancers, one cell at a time
2 hours ago
A solitary cell containing a unique abnormality can result in certain types of blood cancers known as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), according to a study published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.
Link between breast implants and cancer under investigation
2 hours ago
An international research group including Viennese pathologist Lukas Kenner has reviewed cases of possible association between breast implants and a form of lymphoma that may develop tumors at a later stage. The researchers ...
Mother of two volunteers to aid study seeking DNA patterns for breast cancer
Oct 03, 2014
After having two children in her 30s, Brianna Hinojosa-Flores had been vigilant about getting mammograms and performing breast self-exams, as suggested by her gynecologist. But when she ran for a congressional ...
Lung cancer screening found cost-effective for Medicare
Oct 03, 2014
(HealthDay)—Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is a low-cost and cost-effective strategy for screening Medicare beneficiaries for lung cancer, according to a study published in the August issue of American He ...
More women having reconstruction surgery after breast cancer treatment
Oct 03, 2014
(HealthDay)—A growing number of breast cancer patients in the United States are having breast reconstruction surgery immediately after breast removal (mastectomy), a new study shows.
User comments
© Medical Xpress 2011-2014, Science X network
Many US patients with liver cancer—even those with early stage disease that can often be cured—do not receive treatment for their disease, according to an analysis of studies published between 1989 and 2013.
Less than one fourth of patients undergo curative treatment, and nearly 50% do not receive any treatment. Elderly, non-Caucasians and patients of low socioeconomic status had lower treatment rates than their counterparts.
"We found the low treatment rates among patients with early stage tumors particularly concerning. Many of these patients currently fail to receive any treatment despite having curative treatment options that could afford long-term survival," said Dr. Amit Singal, senior author of the Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics paper. "These findings highlight the urgent need for interventions such as multidisciplinary management clinics to optimize treatment of patients with primary liver cancer."
Explore further: Screening for liver cancer in patients with cirrhosis
More information: Tan, D., Yopp, A., Beg, M. S., Gopal, P. and Singal, A. G. (2013), Meta-analysis: underutilisation and disparities of treatment among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 38: 703–712. DOI: 10.1111/apt.12450
Medical Xpress on facebook
Related Stories
Screening for liver cancer in patients with cirrhosis
Apr 01, 2014
In a systematic review and meta-analysis of 47 studies with 15,158 patients, Amit Singal (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) and colleagues found that patients with cirrhosis who underwent surveillance (via ...
Liver cancer screening highly beneficial for people with cirrhosis
May 05, 2014
Liver cancer survival rates could be improved if more people with cirrhosis are screened for tumors using inexpensive ultrasound scans and blood tests, according to a review by doctors at UT Southwestern ...
Trial shows improved overall survival for patients with liver cancer not amenable to surgery
Sep 08, 2014
The mature results from a trial conducted by the Asia-Pacific Hepatocellular Carcinoma Trials Group led by the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and Singapore General Hospital (SGH) have shown that patients who suffer ...
Drug shows promise for subset of stage III colon cancer patients
Aug 28, 2014
A subset of patients with stage III colon cancer had improved survival rates when treated with irinotecan-based therapy, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Associ ...
Racial disparities in the surgical management of non-small cell lung cancer
May 21, 2013
The surgical management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in U.S. hospitals varies widely depending on the race of the patient, according to a new study.
Recommended for you
Tumors might grow faster at night: Hormone that keeps us alert also suppresses the spread of cancer
2 hours ago
They emerge at night, while we sleep unaware, growing and spreading out as quickly as they can. And they are deadly. In a surprise finding that was recently published in Nature Communications, Weizmann Instit ...
'JAKing' up blood cancers, one cell at a time
2 hours ago
A solitary cell containing a unique abnormality can result in certain types of blood cancers known as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), according to a study published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.
Link between breast implants and cancer under investigation
2 hours ago
An international research group including Viennese pathologist Lukas Kenner has reviewed cases of possible association between breast implants and a form of lymphoma that may develop tumors at a later stage. The researchers ...
Mother of two volunteers to aid study seeking DNA patterns for breast cancer
Oct 03, 2014
After having two children in her 30s, Brianna Hinojosa-Flores had been vigilant about getting mammograms and performing breast self-exams, as suggested by her gynecologist. But when she ran for a congressional ...
Lung cancer screening found cost-effective for Medicare
Oct 03, 2014
(HealthDay)—Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is a low-cost and cost-effective strategy for screening Medicare beneficiaries for lung cancer, according to a study published in the August issue of American He ...
More women having reconstruction surgery after breast cancer treatment
Oct 03, 2014
(HealthDay)—A growing number of breast cancer patients in the United States are having breast reconstruction surgery immediately after breast removal (mastectomy), a new study shows.
User comments
© Medical Xpress 2011-2014, Science X network
0 comments:
Post a Comment