Hepatitis B virus (HBV) induced liver cancer represents the most glaring cancer health disparity facing Asian Americans. While liver cancer is relatively uncommon in the U.S., it leads all other cancer sites in the percentage increase in mortality, with dismal survival rates. The disease disproportionately affects all populations of color, but particularly Asian Americans, who experience the highest rates of liver cancer.

Community-centered interventions to control HBV/liver cancer among Asian Americans, operationally defined as organized activities to increase awareness of HBV risks among Asian Americans and the promotion of HBV screening and vaccination, include programs working in policy/advocacy, screening, and community-based controlled intervention trials.

These interventions have led to: 1) fostering the adoption of universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth, credited with averting at least 700,000 deaths annually; 2) community-based screenings that reach more than 21,000 individuals per year, catalyzing referrals for additional screening and treatment; and 3) the initiation of at least seven community-centered controlled intervention trials to increase vaccination or serological testing among Asian Americans. Despite the many advantages and accomplishments of community-centered interventions, large numbers of Asian Americans remain unaware of their HBV status and concerns exist regarding the validity of self-reported serological testing or vaccination for HBV as the measure of intervention effectiveness. In addition, in order to reduce the rate of liver cancer and other complications, there is a need to ensure continued community-centered HBV education and appropriate quality of care provided to those who have chronic hepatitis B diagnosed by screening. Greater integration of community-centered efforts with clinic-based interventions, which have complementary assets, appears to be a promising approach to reduce the unnecessary HBV/liver cancer disparities among Asian Americans as well as all populations at risk.

Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20(10 Suppl):PL02-02.

Copyright © September 18, 2011, American Association for Cancer Research
2011