Differences in clinical characteristics and treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma between Asians and non-Asians.

Abstract

289 Background: Studies have demonstrated clinical differences in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) between Asians (AS) and non-Asians (NAS). In the US, AS are less likely to undergo liver transplant compared to Caucasians. Despite the large immigrant population in Canada, there has been no prior comparison of HCC in AS and NAS in the context of the Canadian universal health care system. We retrospectively evaluated the ethnic differences in HCC at the largest cancer centre in Canada. Methods: We analyzed 268 patients who enrolled in a Genetic Epidemiology Study of HCC (April 2010 to February 2013), where patients were asked to complete a questionnaire and give a blood sample at their first visit. Relevant clinical data were extracted and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test or Chi-square test. Results: The study population had a mean age of 61 years and 83% males. There were 45% AS, 49% Caucasians, and 6% other ethnicities. Etiologies of HCC included: Hepatitis B (HBV) 34%, Hepatitis C (HCV) 32%, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis 15%, alcohol 18%. Compared to NAS, HCC patients of Asian ancestry had significantly higher rates of HBV (60% vs. 12%, p<0.001). At diagnosis, 83% of patients were Child-Pugh A (mean MELD score 9.2). Ethnicity had no impact on Child-Pugh class, multifocal disease or macrovascular invasion. However, MELD scores were lower in AS (p=0.02). Overall, 71% of cases were initially treated with curative intent. Patients underwent various treatment modalities: liver transplant 13%, resection 31%, radiofrequency ablation 39%, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) 21%, radiation 17%, systemic therapy 27%. AS had higher resection rates (41% vs. 22%, p<0.001), while no differences were observed for other treatments. Duration of response was 11.7 months for TACE (AS 14.2, NAS 10.5), 7.5 months for sorafenib (AS 6.8, NAS 8.1). Rate of intolerance to sorafenib was 24% (AS 27%, NAS 22%, p=0.63). This analysis was limited by inherent bias in the selection of study patients. Conclusions: AS with HCC tend to have HBV and lower MELD scores, and to undergo resection in a public health care setting with no differences in the uptake of other therapies. An analysis of survival based on ethnicity will be reported.