Lack of substantial improvements in the landscape of alcohol-related hepatocellular carcinoma in the last 15 years: The need to improve cancer prevention and surveillance

• Published in: Digestive and liver disease 2023-03, Vol.55, p.S16-S17
• Main Authors: Reggidori, N., Bucci, L., Santi, V., Stefanini, B., Lani, L., Rampoldi, D., Caturelli, E., Farinati, F., Masotto, A., Mega, A., Biasini, E., Foschi, F.G., Svegliati-Baroni, G., Sangiovanni, A., Campani, C., Raimondo, G., Vidili, G., Gasbarrini, A., Celsa, C., Di Marco, M., Giannini, E.G., Sacco, R., Brunetto, M.R., Azzaroli, F., Magalotti, D., Morisco, F., Rapaccini, G.L., Nardone, G., Vitale, A., Trevisani, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1590-8658; 1878-3562
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2023.01.030

Alcohol abuse and metabolic disorders are leading causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. Alcoholic aetiology associates with a worse prognosis compared to hepatitis B and C infections, due to a lower percentage of HCCs diagnosed under regular surveillance and a higher comorbidity burden in alcoholic patients. This study aimed at describing the evolving clinical scenario of alcohol-related HCC over a 15-year period (2006-2020) in Italy. Data of the Italian Liver Cancer (ITA.LI.CA) registry were used: 1391 alcoholic patients were allocated to 3 groups based on the year of cancer diagnosis (2006-2010; 2011-2015; 2016-2020) and patient characteristics, HCC treatment and overall survival were compared among groups. Survival predictors were also investigated. Around 80% of alcoholic patients were classified as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) cases. Throughout the quinquennia,