Author information
1Jessica P. Hwang, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Anita L. Sabichi, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Mark R. Somerfield, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, VA; Devena E. Alston-Johnson, Upstate Oncology Associates, Greenville, SC; Donna R. Cryer, Global Liver Institute, Washington, DC; Jordan J. Feld, Toronto Western Hospital Liver Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Barnett S. Kramer, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD; Sandra L. Wong, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; and Andrew S. Artz, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Abstract
PURPOSE:
This updated provisional clinical opinion presents a revised opinion based on American Society of Clinical Oncology panel consensus in the context of an evolving database.
CONTEXT:
Despite the 2010 provisional clinical opinion recommendation, there is still evidence of suboptimal hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening among patients at high risk for HBV infection or HBV reactivation after chemotherapy. This updated provisional clinical opinion introduces a risk-adaptive strategy to identify and treat patients with HBV infection to reduce their risk of HBV reactivation.
PROVISIONAL CLINICAL OPINION:
Medical providers should screen by testing patients for HBV infection before starting anti-CD20 therapy or hematopoietic cell transplantation. Providers should also screen patients with risk factors for HBV infection. Screening should include both hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), because reactivation can occur in patients who are HBsAg positive/anti-HBc positive or HBsAg negative/anti-HBc positive. Either total anti-HBc or anti-HBc immunoglobulin G (not immunoglobulin M) test should be used. Clinicians should start antiviral therapy for HBsAg-positive/anti-HBc-positive patients before or contemporaneously with cancer therapy and monitor HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive patients for reactivation with HBV DNA and ALT levels, promptly starting antivirals if reactivation occurs. Clinicians can initiate antivirals for HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive patients anticipating cancer therapies associated with a high risk of reactivation, or they can monitor HBV DNA and ALT levels and initiate on-demand antivirals. For patients who neither have HBV risk factors nor anticipate cancer therapy associated with a high risk of reactivation, current evidence does not support HBV screening before initiation of cancer therapy. Two panel members provided a minority viewpoint, involving a strategy of universal HBsAg and selective anti-HBc testing.