Rita M Abdelmessih

1 publication 2017 – 2017
Databases, FactualGraft RejectionCarcinoma, HepatocellularDisease-Free SurvivalAcademic Medical Centers

What does Rita M Abdelmessih research?

Dr. Abdelmessih studies the outcomes of liver transplant patients, especially those who have liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). She has developed innovative scoring systems, like the MORAL score, to assess the risk of cancer returning after transplantation. By analyzing specific factors, such as blood markers and tumor characteristics, she aims to help doctors better predict which patients are likely to experience recurrence and improve their treatment planning.

Key findings

  • In her study of 339 liver cancer transplant patients, the MORAL score was able to differentiate patients into groups with five-year recurrence-free survival rates between 98.6% and 17.9%.
  • The MORAL score significantly outperformed the Milan criteria with a c-statistic of 0.82 compared to 0.63, indicating it was more effective at predicting outcomes.
  • A revised version of the post-operative MORAL score, which included pathology findings, achieved an even higher accuracy with a c-statistic of 0.87.

Frequently asked questions

Does Dr. Abdelmessih study liver cancer?
Yes, she focuses specifically on hepatocellular carcinoma, which is a common type of liver cancer.
What treatments has Dr. Abdelmessih researched?
She primarily researches liver transplantation as a treatment for liver cancer and how to predict the risk of cancer recurrence after the procedure.
Is Dr. Abdelmessih's work relevant to liver transplant patients?
Absolutely. Her research provides valuable insights into the likelihood of cancer returning after a liver transplant, which can guide patient management and treatment decisions.

Publications in plain English

Recurrence After Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A New MORAL to the Story.

2017

Annals of surgery

Halazun KJ, Najjar M, Abdelmessih RM, Samstein B, Griesemer AD +5 more

Plain English
The Milan criteria determine which liver cancer patients qualify for a transplant, but they don't capture tumor biology. This study built the MORAL score, combining AFP, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and tumor size, to better predict which patients will have cancer recurrence after transplant. The model outperforms Milan criteria alone and could guide fairer organ allocation.

PubMed

Publication data sourced from PubMed . Plain-English summaries generated by AI. Not medical advice.