Survival worse with alcohol-related HCC, compared with other types

“Importantly, Bucci et al (Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2016 Feb;43[3]:385-99) observed similar survival between alcoholic patients and patients with hepatitis C virus among patients undergoing HCC surveillance according to guidelines. The poorer prognosis of alcohol-related HCC is, therefore, very likely to be related to an advanced stage at diagnosis due to screening failure instead of greater cancer aggressiveness,” they wrote.

“To improve prognosis of liver cancer in the alcoholic population, efforts should be made to implement effective screening programs for both cirrhosis and liver cancer and to improve access to alcoholism treatment services,” Dr. Costentin said in press release. “A smaller tumor burden and a better liver function at diagnosis should translate into higher rates of patients with alcohol-related liver cancer amenable to curative treatment such as tumor resection or ablation and liver transplantation.”

Dr. Costentin did not report conflicts of interest. Several of her coauthors reported personal fees from various companies outside the submitted work.

SOURCE: Costentin CE at al. Cancer. doi: 10.1002/cncr.31215.