Dr. Abou-Alfa on Areas Ripe for Further Exploration in HCC

Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa, MD, a medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses areas ripe for further exploration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Efforts are underway to examine the immune microenvironment in patients with HCC, according to Abou-Alfa. Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center are collecting tissue samples, along with demographic and treatment information, from patients with HCC around the world to better understand the molecular components of the immune microenvironment, Abou-Alfa says.

Advancements in cellular therapies for HCC and other solid tumors will be another area of interest in the coming years, Abou-Alfa adds.

Ensuring all patients with HCC have access to treatment remains a priority, Abou-Alfa says. The highest rates of liver cancer due to hepatitis C are found in Africa, particularly Egypt, according to Abou-Alfa. The highest incidence rates of liver cancer stemming from hepatitis B are also in Africa, Abou-Alfa adds. Bearing this in mind, in conjunction with colleagues in Africa, MSK researchers conducted a study to examine access to therapy across the continent for patients with liver cancer, Abou-Alfa concludes.