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CME: Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC): Therapeutic Updates, Best Practices, and Barriers to Care

ACCREDITATION EXPIRED: January 22, 2016

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online CME self-learning program:

 

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths and one of the more common types of cancer affecting the population worldwide. It is an aggressive form of liver cancer occurring with increasing incidence and in 78% of cases worldwide is caused by hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections. HCC is often fatal as it is primarily diagnosed in the advanced disease state and carries a grim prognosis: 5-year survival rates are typically no more than ten percent. Though the etiology itself can be complex, improvements in screening and treatments may help to reduce the burden of HCC in the population worldwide.

 

It has also been determined that by doing surveillance in high risk individuals, HCC can be caught much earlier and therefore have a more positive prognosis potentially leading to increased rates of survival. Screening guidelines for HCC released by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) include recommendations by ethnicity, exposures, disease states, and family history.  Updated information is also available regarding serologic markers used in the screening process. As the incidence of HCC increases, there will be a greater need to increase surveillance and screening of it in at risk populations. By diagnosing HCC earlier, more curative treatment options are available and the prognosis improves.

 

Agenda

 

Introduction, Disclosures

Epidemiology of and risk factors for HCC

•          Statistics

•          Demographics

•          Risk factors, modifiable and non-: age, genetics, comorbid diseases, and alcohol intake

Diagnosis of HCC

•          Labs

•          Differential diagnosis

•          Diagnosis: biopsy and imaging

•          Staging

Nonpharmacologic treatment of HCC

•          Curative options

➢          Hepatic resection

➢          Liver transplant

•          The role of ablation: radio-, cryo-, transarterial chemo-, percutaneous ethanol or acetic acid

•          Adjunctive therapy

➢          Stereotactic radiotherapy

➢          Counseling and support

Pharmacotherapeutic treatment options

•          The evolving roles of molecularly targeted and immunotherapy

•          The role of conventional, cytotoxic chemotherapy

•          Adjunct care: anticoagulants, antivirals, and additional medications

•          Patient case(s)

Barriers to care

•          Racial-, ethnic-, and other demographically-based disparities in care

•          Patient education

Summary, conclusions, and best practice recap

Target Audience:

 

Healthcare professionals specializing in: endocrinology; family medicine; gastroenterology; hepatology; interventional radiology; oncology; solid organ transplant; surgical oncology; and healthcare professionals who otherwise commonly care for patients with HCC.

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Commercial Support Disclosure: This program is supported by educational grants from Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, and Daiichi-Sankyo.

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Release Date: January 22, 2014 -- Expiration Date: January 22, 2016

Faculty: Manish Sharma, MD

Agenda

Learning Objectives

Accreditation

Faculty Disclosure and Resolution of COI

Instructions

System Requirements