Randomized Control Trial (RCT) of Early Palliative Care for HCC

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the effect of early palliative care consultation on quality of life, use of hospital resources, end-of-life care and survival among Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) patients with advanced End Stage Live Disease not eligible for potentially curative or local area therapy. Half of patients will receive early palliative care at diagnosis of HCC and other half will receive palliative care when all standard therapy treatments have been exhausted.

Detailed Description
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Intro: Hypothesis Methods Analysis Anticipated Results Palliative care will focus on providing relief from the symptoms and stress associated from cancer. This helps improve quality of life for cancer patients and their family. This care is usually offered to patients when all standard therapy treatments have been exhausted.

Official Title
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Early Symptom Control and Palliative Care Referral for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma; a Randomized Control Trial

Conditions
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Carcinoma, Hepatocellular

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Early Palliative Care/Symptom Control


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosed HCC by biopsy or liver protocol CT scan or MRI characteristics Permanent street address with Harris County, Texas and consent to study participation English or Spanish speaking with ability to respond to the QoL questionnaires Child-Pugh C, not eligible for liver transplantation (TXP), surgical resection, ablation, locoregional or systemic therapy Child-Pugh C, eligible for systemic chemotherapy (Sorafenib), not eligible for TXP, surgical resection, ablation or locoregional therapy Child-Pugh A or B, not eligible for surgical resection or ablation (>3 lesions or 2 lesions with one being >5cm) Child-Pugh A, not eligible for TXP, surgical resection, ablation or locoregional therapy Exclusion Criteria: Primary modality of treatment is potentially curative TXP, surgical resection or ablation as deemed by GI MDC Child-Pugh A or B (up to 2 lesions < 5cm in size) Medical (e.g. severe encephalopathy), psychological or social conditions that may interfere with the patient's participation in the study or evaluation of the study results Any medical condition (acute myocardial infarction or stroke) that could jeopardize the safety of the patient and his/her compliance in the study Vulnerable population (inmates in jail or prison) Non-English or Non-Spanish Speaking patients.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Standard Therapy<br>Patients will undergo standard medical care for Hepatocellular Carcinoma diagnosis.Patients however will not be denied early palliative care if requested. | |
| Experimental: Early Palliative Care/Symptom Control<br>Patients will undergo palliative care services at time of Hepatocellular Carcinoma diagnosis. Palliative care and symptom control services are adapted from the National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care. Early referral, patients meeting inclusion criteria will be enrolled and referred to palliative care within 3 weeks of the index consultation with Medical-Oncology, Surgical-Oncology or Gastroenterology. Intervention will be: Establish palliative care goals Symptom Assessment and Control End-of-Life Care | Behavioral: Early Palliative Care/Symptom Control<br>* Establish palliative care goals Determination of Medical Power of Attorney Discuss/plan code status/advance directives Document palliative care goals Symptom Assessment and Control Pain-treatment with opioid and non-opioid medications Itching-H2 blockers, steroids Nutrition-appetite stimulated with Megace, review low sodium diet Ascites/edema- optimize ascites management with Lasix or Aldactone. In refractory cases intermittent paracentesis can be performed Nausea- treated with anti-emetics Jaundice and Body Image- counselling regarding symptoms End-of-Life Care Discuss religious preferences Assess for distress- ensure interaction with Cancer Resource Center Hospice- charity Hospice options for select patients.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) | The primary outcome is the change in the patient's primary need based upon HRQoL survey. These scores range from 0-100 for the role functioning scale, physical function scale and the other QLQ-C30 scales and HCC18 symptom complexes. | 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Survival | Overall Survival. The investigators will assess if the intervention improves overall survival. The unit of measure will be months | 2 Years after diagnosis | 
| Resource Utilization | The investigators will determine if the intervention decreases resource utilization (ICU days and length of stay). The unit of measure will be days. | 2 Years after diagnosis | 
| Cost Utilization | The investigators will determine if the intervention decreases cost between groups. To do this, the investigators will track cost per group from time of study enrollment to either death, withdrawal or study completion. Cost will be estimated in US dollars. | 2 Years after diagnosis | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Liver Cancer, Randomized Control Trial, Palliative Care, Liver Cell Carcinoma, Palliative Therapy