THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	95
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to cancer research.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that liver cancer in Hawai‘i occurs at extremely high rates. According to the United States Center for Disease Control and the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center, Hawai‘i has had the highest or second highest rate of liver cancer in the country in recent years.

Every year in Hawai‘i there are one hundred eighty-four newly diagnosed cases of liver cancer, including bile duct cancer, according to the Hawaii Tumor Registry. From 2004 to 2013, available data on liver cancer indicated an annual increase in Hawai‘i of 2.1 per cent in males and 1.3 per cent in females, while the incidence of many other cancers such as colon, lung, prostate, and stomach cancer declined. There are currently approximately one thousand patients in Hawai‘i fighting liver cancer and bile duct cancer, both of which are almost always fatal.

Liver cancer, which starts in the liver and includes bile duct cancer, is most commonly caused by the hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and heavy alcohol consumption. In Hawai‘i however, these factors are near the national average, which suggests that other factors may be contributing to the high occurrence of liver cancer in the State. Other factors that can cause liver cancer are liver fluke infection (a type of parasitic flatworm found in fish, shrimp, and vegetables grown in fresh water) and eating foods containing aflatoxins (a fungus abundant in warm and humid regions that can grow on foods such as grains and nuts stored improperly). Since there is virtually no data on liver fluke infection and aflatoxin exposure in Hawai‘i, the State is unable to adequately make causative connections between these factors and liver cancer.

The University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center is preparing to conduct a three-year, $1,100,000 study to examine the prevalence of liver fluke infection, aflatoxin ingestion, and intrahepatic bile duct dilation in the general population and liver cancer patients in Hawai‘i, and examine any associations with participant characteristics, such as ethnicity. The Cancer Center has indicated that it will need $340,000 for the first year of the study and $380,000 for each of the remaining years.

The purpose of this Act is to make an appropriation to the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center to determine if the reasons Hawai‘i has the highest incidence in the country of liver and bile duct cancer is due to liver fluke infection, aflatoxin ingestion, and intrahepatic bile duct dilation in Hawai‘i.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $340,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center to determine the reasons that Hawai‘i has the highest incidence of liver and bile duct cancer in the country.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawai‘i for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Cancer Research; Liver Cancer; UH Cancer Center; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the UH Cancer Center to determine the reasons that Hawai‘i has the highest incidence of liver and bile duct cancer in the country.

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