Should People With Cancer Be Tested for Hepatitis B?

July 27, 2020
Brielle Gregory, ASCO staff

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) published an updated provisional clinical opinion on screening and management of hepatitis B virus for people with cancer on July 27, 2020. Provisional clinical opinions are recommendations for care based on the newest information in cancer care. Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver and if it’s not identified before cancer treatment starts, it may grow unchecked and possibly cause complications.

In this podcast, Andrew Artz, MD, MS, and Jessica Hwang, MD, MPH, discuss what people with cancer and their loved ones should know about hepatitis B virus, including what it is, who should be screened for it, and how it can impact people with cancer. Dr. Artz and Dr. Hwang were co-chairs for the development of this provisional clinical opinion.

  • What is a provisional clinical opinion, and how does it influence cancer care? [2:22]

  • What is hepatitis B virus, and how is it connected to cancer? [3:24]

  • Who should be screened for hepatitis B virus, and when should people be screened? [5:06]

  • How are people tested for hepatitis B virus? [6:25]

  • What are some of the problems that hepatitis B can cause during cancer treatment? [7:30]

  • Hepatitis B virus can reappear or flare up in people with a chronic hepatitis B infection or who previously had an infection. If this happens, it is called reactivation. What does ASCO recommend to reduce the risk of a hepatitis B reactivation? [8:45]

Dr. Artz is an associate clinical professor in the Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, the director of the Program for Aging and Blood Cancers, and the deputy director of the Center for Cancer and Aging at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center in Duarte, California. Dr. Artz has no relationships to disclose related to this provisional clinical opinion. Dr. Hwang is a tenured professor in the Department of General Internal Medicine in the Division of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Hwang has previously received research funding from Gilead, a maker of hepatitis drugs.

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