Rome, April 13 (beraking latest news Health) – To develop new solutions for patients living with hepatocellular carcinoma – one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the world – and the still unmet needs in the management of the disease, through the multidisciplinary involvement of specialists. This is the goal of “Hack for HCC”, the Hackathon promoted by Roche, in collaboration with H-Farm, which saw the participation of over 70 experts from major Italian clinical and research centers.
Hepatocellular carcinoma – a note from Roche recalls – represents one of the most aggressive oncological diseases and for which limited treatment options are available. In our country, according to data from the Italian Cancer Registry Association (Airtum), about 13,000 new diagnoses of liver cancer are expected in 2020, of which 75-85% Hcc, with 7800 deaths. “The multidisciplinary management of the patient with hepatocarcinoma is fundamental because, thanks to the new therapeutic possibilities, the duration of the disease has been extended compared to the past, especially thanks to early diagnosis. For these patients, different therapeutic approaches are necessary depending on the stage of the disease. and the support of professionals such as hepatologists, surgeons, oncologists and radiologists “, says Filomena Morisco, full professor in Gastroenterology and director of the School of Specialization in digestive system diseases at the Federico II University of Naples.
“The ‘Hack for Hcc’ project – he underlines – was born to listen to doctors and strengthen the multidisciplinary approach on the national territory, precious for putting ‘individual’ professionals in contact by stimulating the comparison between specialists on the advantages of the different therapeutic options. provision and on the correct way to proceed. Given the complexity of the pathology and the multiple skills necessary to treat it at its best, one of the three challenges of the Hackathon really wanted to investigate how best to support Italian multidisciplinary teams; in fact, large centers can be structurally ready to manage even the most innovative therapies, but multidisciplinary sharing is often lacking. Another challenge faced was that relating to the training of specialists, which is increasingly important in a rapidly evolving therapeutic context such as that of hepatocarcinoma “.
One of the three challenges discussed and co-created by the Hackathon focused on assistance to the patient and the caregiver, who plays a fundamental role alongside those suffering from hepatocellular cancer. “This is a complex and subtle pathology – underlines Ivan Gardini, president of the EpaC Onlus Association – since, not showing specific symptoms, it is difficult to diagnose in the initial phase, if not through close monitoring of patients at risk: healing is still low and only a fifth of patients are alive five years after diagnosis. Furthermore, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma often have comorbidities and for this reason they need to be followed by a multidisciplinary team of gastroenterologists, oncologists, surgeons and diagnostic radiologists. and interventional “.
“Promoting a synergistic collaboration of all the interlocutors involved in the treatment of the disease – adds Gardini – can represent a great help to improve management not only for patients but also for caregivers: it is essential to build local and regional networks in order to trace paths quickly towards highly specialized hospitals, reducing the by now known and fruitless pilgrimages of patients to inadequate structures. For this reason our association welcomes this initiative which we hope will contribute to improving patient care and optimal management of the pathology “.
The participants, divided into multidisciplinary teams, have taken up these challenges, jointly devising and proposing innovative solutions to improve the treatment path and to facilitate medical care. Judging the projects presented, a panel of experts in various capacities in the health sector, which selected the best initiatives according to precise evaluation criteria, including adherence to the challenge, originality, measurability of the solution, feasibility and impact on the health system.
“The Hackathon was a new way to create dialogue between a group of different specialists, of different ages and with various experiences. The comparison to find innovative solutions, on three distinct issues, was very positive – says Andrea Casadei Gardini, senior researcher of Oncology at the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan – Until recently, without pharmacological options effective, the dialogue between the different specialists was not considered so significant, but now it is fundamental, thanks to combinations of increasingly effective systemic therapies “.
Three projects aimed at reducing the distance between specialists and patients won ‘Hack for Hcc’. To be judged positively by the jury: “E-Referral Hepatocarcinoma”, a platform dedicated to local health companies, general practitioners and specialists, to favor the multidisciplinary management of individual patients. Among the winners, the team that proposed “Lidia Liver Diary”, a real logbook shared between doctors and patients in the double digital and paper version. “Wiki Hcc” is instead the suggestive idea of the third winning group of the Hackathon, a virtual bulletin board in which to converge useful information for specialists, patients and caregivers.
Roche – the note recalls – is committed to fighting liver disorders throughout the path of the disease, from the early stages to advanced disease, with the ultimate goal of stopping chronic liver diseases one day. A commitment that has involved not only Roche Pharma since the 90s with drugs for hepatitis and today the development of new drugs such as atezolizumab, but also Roche Diagnostics with immunometric tests aimed at improving the early diagnosis of hepatocarcinoma and Roche Diabetes Care which for years promotes, through its portals aimed at diabetic patients, information on correct lifestyles and nutrition, in order to prevent the development of liver diseases such as cirrhosis and fibrosis, which damage organ functionality and can cause serious consequences, up to the development of liver carcinomas.