The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) released an update on Apr. 17 calling for stronger prevention efforts and improved early-detection tools for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is the leading cause of cancer-related death among patients with cirrhosis and the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide.
This update, published in Gastroenterology, highlights that early detection is essential because curative treatments are available when HCC is found at an early stage. However, only 30–40% of cases are currently diagnosed early, pointing to both limitations in current surveillance methods and low usage rates.
The AGA notes that the causes of liver disease are changing. Non-viral liver diseases such as metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and alcohol‑related liver disease (ALD) have become the fastest-growing contributors to HCC. This trend means more patients may need regular screening than before.
To address these challenges, the update provides eight best-practice advice statements aimed at helping clinicians improve risk assessment and surveillance strategies for HCC. The guidance includes new models like the PAGED-B score—which incorporates hepatitis B virus DNA viral load—and machine-learning tools such as the SMART-HCC score to enhance risk prediction. The AGA said these new approaches will require further validation before they can be widely adopted.
As research continues into better ways to identify high-risk patients earlier, experts expect future developments in predictive modeling could lead to more effective prevention and treatment outcomes.
