Late hepatic toxicity surveillance for survivors of childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer: Recommendations from the international late effects of childhood cancer guideline harmonization group

Edit Bardi*, Renée L. Mulder, Elvira C. van Dalen, Neel S. Bhatt, Kathy A. Ruble, Jennifer Burgis, Sharon M. Castellino, Louis S. Constine, Caroline M. den Hoed, Daniel M. Green, Bart G.P. Koot, Gill Levitt, László Szonyi, W. Hamish Wallace, Roderick Skinner, Melissa M. Hudson, Leontien C.M. Kremer, Karen E. Effinger, Dorine Bresters

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleAcademicpeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Survivors of childhood, adolescent and young adult (CAYA) cancer may develop treatment-induced chronic liver disease. Surveillance guidelines can improve survivors’ health outcomes. However, current recommendations vary, leading to uncertainty about optimal screening. The International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group has developed recommendations for the surveillance of late hepatotoxicity after CAYA cancer. Methods: Evidence-based methods based on the GRADE framework were used in guideline development. A multidisciplinary guideline panel performed systematic literature reviews, developed evidence summaries, appraised the evidence, and formulated recommendations on the basis of evidence, clinical judgement, and consideration of benefits versus the harms of the surveillance while allowing for flexibility in implementation across different health care systems. Results: The guideline strongly recommends a physical examination and measurement of serum liver enzyme concentrations (ALT, AST, gGT, ALP) once at entry into long-term follow-up for survivors treated with radiotherapy potentially exposing the liver (moderate- to high-quality evidence). For survivors treated with busulfan, thioguanine, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, dactinomycin, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), or hepatic surgery, or with a history of chronic viral hepatitis or sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, similar surveillance for late hepatotoxicity once at entry into LTFU is reasonable (low-quality evidence/expert opinion, moderate recommendation). For survivors who have undergone HSCT and/or received multiple red blood cell transfusions, surveillance for iron overload with serum ferritin is strongly recommended once at long-term follow-up entry. Conclusions: These evidence-based, internationally-harmonized recommendations for the surveillance of late hepatic toxicity in cancer survivors can inform clinical care and guide future research of health outcomes for CAYA cancer survivors.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102296
Number of pages10
JournalCancer Treatment Reviews
Volume100
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank David Freyer for critically appraising the recommendations and manuscript as an external reviewer, and Zuzana Tomášiková, Lisa Goerens, Tiago Costa, Marie Barth, Laura Diaco, Hannah Gsell and Julia Stepenske as survivor advocates. This work was partly financially supported by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development, and demonstration under grant agreement no. 257505 (PanCareSurFup).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021

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