Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2023

Putting liver on the agenda: a national roadmap for liver cancer control. (#411)

Eleonora Feletto 1 , Caitlin Latumahina 1 , Amanda McAtamney 2 , Megan Varlow 2 , Jacob George 3 , Nicole Allard 4
  1. The Daffodil Centre, a joint venture between the University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW , Sydney
  2. Cancer Council Australia, Haymarket, NSW, Australia
  3. Storr Liver Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead Hospital and University of Sydney , Sydney
  4. The Doherty Institute , Melbourne

Aim: The development of a strategic Roadmap to identify collective actions over the next 2, 5, and 10 years to reduce the burden of liver cancer in Australia.

Methods: Funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care in 2019, Cancer Council Australia utilised 4 processes to inform the development of priority actions to drive improvements in liver cancer outcomes: a scoping review of the literature on screening and surveillance for liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); an environmental scan of current models of care for HCC surveillance in Australia; iterative consultation with the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) and key stakeholders in liver cancer control; and a national Summit with key stakeholders to refine priorities.

Results: Launched June 2023 the Roadmap identifies 26 priority actions across the prevention continuum to improve liver cancer outcomes in Australia. These actions aim to reverse the rising trend of liver cancer incidence and mortality. The impact of these actions will be measured by:

  • Liver cancer incidence rates, which could stabilise or decrease with better prevention and early detection;
  • Linked data on liver cancer risk factors and trends, which are essential to inform the success of the actions;
  • Survival and mortality rates, which could improve with better access and delivery of treatment and care.

This Roadmap presents a comprehensive and evidence-based plan to improve liver cancer outcomes in Australia.

Conclusions:  The commonalities between liver cancer risk factors and modifiable risk factors for chronic diseases including alcohol consumption, and tobacco use, support clear calls for action and linking national policies to leverage the impact on liver cancer control. The Roadmap highlights the need to engage with policy makers, and clinicians to improve health literacy, awareness, understanding and utilisation of liver cancer control activities, across the life course to achieve better outcomes.

Acknowledgement: We acknowledge the contributions of the Expert Advisory Group and the Guidelines Working Party.