Written by:
Boris Baur
Head HCC, BTC and Pancreatic Cancer, Global Medical Affairs, AstraZeneca
Zeena Chi
Senior Director, Global Policy and Advocacy (GI Cancers), AstraZeneca
Imagine learning that you have advanced cancer, only to then confront pervasive stigma, fragmented care and the crushing reality of a late diagnosis. For too many patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), this is their grim reality. This aggressive liver cancer demands more than just medical breakthroughs.
AstraZeneca’s ambition to revolutionise cancer care means challenging the status quo and driving systemic change that goes beyond the lab. Recognising these urgent needs, we have partnered with a multidisciplinary team, comprised of healthcare professionals and patient organisations across six continents, to develop the HCC Patient Charter. This foundational document is not just a declaration; it is a strategic blueprint outlining seven core principles of quality care that every person with HCC should expect. It is designed to fundamentally improve outcomes and increase survival by focusing on policymaking, early diagnosis and equitable, comprehensive and personalised care.1
A Bold Vision for Change: Beyond Treatment, Towards Transformation
The Charter, endorsed by 35 patient organisations since its publication, champions the critical roles of policymaking and research in transforming HCC care.1 As more than half of HCC diagnoses occur at late stages of the disease, patients often face a dire prognosis with a five-year survival rate of approximately 10% for advanced disease.2-3 The Charter directly confronts this challenge by urging policymakers to prioritise liver cancer in national strategies, shifting the paradigm towards earlier detection and more effective interventions.1 This includes eliminating viral hepatitis, which significantly increases the risk of developing HCC, by 2030 through equitable access to vaccination and antiviral therapies.1,3 It also includes a focus on public health campaigns to raise awareness of key HCC risk factors, including harmful alcohol use and metabolic syndrome.1
The Charter also calls for increased HCC research funding, acknowledging a critical lack of investment in this area. More research is vital for improving diagnostics, therapies and data collection, including validating novel biomarkers and imaging techniques for earlier detection.1 AstraZeneca's robust gastrointestinal (GI) oncology pipeline, featuring next-generation modalities and biomarker-driven therapies, actively supports this mission, aiming to uncover breakthroughs for earlier, more effective interventions and improved patient quality of life.
Ensuring Timely and Stigma-Free Access to Care1
Misconceptions linking liver cancer solely to lifestyle choices create a harmful stigma that delays diagnosis and contributes to higher mortality. To combat this, the HCC Patient Charter prioritises timely, accurate and stigma-free access to care. Because liver disease can affect anyone, the Charter advocates for effective national screening programmes to identify high-risk individuals, regardless of background. By challenging misconceptions, the Charter empowers patients to seek care without fear of judgment. This crucial shift in perception is vital for driving earlier intervention and, ultimately, improving survival rates.
The Power of Personalised and Comprehensive Care1
HCC’s heterogeneity and devastating impact on individuals requires personalised and comprehensive care. The Charter emphasises a multidisciplinary team approach, bringing together hepatologists, oncologists, radiologists and other specialists/healthcare professionals to create tailored treatment plans.
Personalised care, as outlined by the Charter, considers a patient's overall health, liver function, cancer extent, co-morbidities, preferences and mental health. Crucially, it promotes shared decision-making, ensuring patients are fully informed and active participants in their care. This collaborative approach builds trust, empowers patients to align choices with personal goals and ultimately improves quality of life, adherence and survival, allowing them to live more fully with their disease.
Our Unwavering Commitment
AstraZeneca's bold vision to revolutionise cancer care fuels our relentless pursuit of scientific breakthroughs in GI cancers, especially HCC. Beyond just words on the page, the HCC Patient Charter represents our living commitment—a transformative blueprint designed to revolutionise care. Its objective is to ensure every patient has the opportunity for improved outcomes and a better quality of life.1 This is the profound impact of collective action that AstraZeneca is dedicated to achieving: patients, advocates and industry uniting to reshape the future of HCC care.
We encourage you to read the full HCC Patient Charter to learn more about this vital roadmap for change.
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