Liver Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 22,620 new cases of liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer were diagnosed in 2009, and that about 18,160 people died of the disease in the same time period.  About 75% of these cancers are hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a cancer that arises in hepatocytes, which are the main type of liver cell.

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most common risk factor for liver cancer.  In the United States, HCV infection is the most common cause of HCC. Infection with HBV or HCV can damage liver cells and lead to the formation of scar tissue (known as cirrhosis).  Most people who develop liver cancer already have some evidence of cirrhosis. Other causes of cirrhosis of the liver include alcohol abuse, certain inherited metabolic disease and some autoimmune diseases. Diabetes is a risk factor for liver cancer, usually in patients with chronic viral hepatitis or heavy alcohol consumption. Obesity may also increase the risk of developing liver cancer because it can cause fatty liver disease and cirrhosis.

Treatment of HCC depends on a number of factors, including the stage and extent of disease and the overall health of the liver. While surgery offers the best chance for a cure, it is usually only pursued if the tumor can be removed while leaving sufficient healthy liver tissue to perform hepatic functions.  Frequently, the cancer has spread to too much liver tissue or beyond the liver to make surgery a viable treatment option. Additionally, more than 80% of people with liver cancer have cirrhosis, which reduces the amount of healthy tissue in the liver and makes surgery less feasible. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy may also be used to treat liver cancer, although radiation therapy and chemotherapy do not have a significant impact on survival.

Adapted from the American Cancer Society’s “Detailed Guide: Liver Cancer”

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