Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer. It occurs most often in people with other liver disorders and frequently occurs secondary to hepatitis B and C infections.
Hepatocellular carcinoma has a poor prognosis for survival. The cancer is usually diagnosed in advanced stages because there are usually no symptoms in initial stages.
Most studies report that patients with smaller, removable tumors who do not have cirrhosis or other serious health problems have the best outlook post-surgery. Early stage liver cancer with a liver transplant has a 5-year survival rate of about 60%-70%.
| Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) stage | 5-year relative survival rate |
|---|---|
| Localized (cancer is limited to the liver) | 34% |
| Regional (cancer has spread to nearby structures and lymph nodes) | 12% |
| Distant (cancer has already spread to the liver, lungs, and bones) | 3% |
| All SEER stages combined | 20% |
Data is from the American Cancer Society
What are risk factors for HCC?
Risk factors for HCC include:
- Chronic liver disorders
- Hepatitis B or C infections
- Alcohol consumption
- Liver cirrhosis
- Diabetes mellitus
- Obesity
- Hemochromatosis
- Wilson's disease
- Increased exposure to vinyl chloride
Hepatocellular carcinoma is more commonly seen in men than women and typically occurs between the ages of 40-60.
What are the signs and symptoms of HCC?
The most common and earliest symptom of hepatocellular carcinoma is hepatosplenomegaly, which is associated with pain in the abdomen. Jaundice is a late sign of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Tumor markers of hepatocellular carcinoma include:
- Alpha-fetoprotein
- Glypican
- HepPar-1
- Protein induced by vitamin K
- Protein induced by vitamin K antagonist II
How is hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed?
Early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma can be made through tests such as:
- Blood tests (a complete blood count should be done to look for the levels of neutrophils, eosinophil, leucocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes)
- Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, etc.
- Liver biopsy (trucut biopsy is preferred)
The imaging study of choice for hepatocellular carcinoma is triple-phase computed tomography, which can help differentiate it from other metastases.
SLIDESHOW
Skin Cancer Symptoms, Types, Images See SlideshowWhat are treatment options for hepatocellular carcinoma?
Treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma depends on whether the cancer is localized or advanced.
Surgery
With localized hepatocellular carcinoma, FibroScan is used to measure functional liver reserve, which is normally over 25%. The following procedures are done depending on the functional liver reserve:
- Tumor resection: If the tumor is small with adequate functional liver reserve
- Liver transplant: If functional liver reserve is low
- ALPPS procedure (associated liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy): If the tumor is small and the functional reserve is inadequate
Milan tumors can be a single tumor of 5 cm or multiple tumors smaller than 3 cm. It doesn't metastasize, and there is no lymphovascular invasion.
Targeted drug therapy
Targeted drug therapy detects weakness in certain cancer cells and attacks them. This is helpful in slowing down the progression of disease in people with advanced liver cancer.
Radiation therapy
If surgery is not an option, radiation therapy may be recommended. A special type of radiation called stereotactic body radiotherapy involves focusing multiple beams simultaneously on one part of the body.
Immunotherapy
These drugs enhance and strengthen the immune system to fight cancer cells. This is a good option for people with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
Palliative treatment
Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma is managed with palliative treatment that includes:
- Trans arterial chemo embolization
- Trans arterial radio embolization using yttrium spheres
- Radiofrequency ablation
- High-frequency ultrasonic therapy
Clinical trials
There are several ongoing clinical trials for hepatocellular carcinoma that may help doctors explore new areas in the treatment of the disease and improve outcomes.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/liver-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/197319-overview
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-features-and-diagnosis-of-hepatocellular-carcinoma
Top What Is the Survival Rate of HCC Liver Cancer Related Articles
Cancer
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
cordyceps
Cordyceps is considered an adaptogen, a substance that is believed to help people adapt to and manage stress, anxiety, and fatigue, and is believed to enhance overall health, kidney and liver function, athletic performance, and cognitive abilities. Cordyceps is believed to have immune-boosting, antitumor, and antioxidant properties and appears to also reduce blood glucose levels and slow blood clotting process. Cordyceps is generally safe for most adults. Rare, mild side effects include stomach discomfort, diarrhea, and constipation. Do not take cordyceps if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Does Liver Cancer Spread Quickly?
Liver cancer can spread quickly depending on the type of cancer. Hemangiosarcoma and angiosarcoma types of liver cancer are fast spreading, whereas hepatocellular carcinoma spreads late in the disease.
Liver Quiz
Do you know the symptoms of liver disease? What is hepatitis? Take this quiz to learn about your liver and how to keep it healthy.
14 Best and Worst Foods for Your Liver
Get some simple diet tips to keep your liver healthy, including the best veggies to keep disease away and some snacks you'll want to avoid.
Liver Damage Causes
Alcohol and acetaminophen are well-known liver dangers, but what else can be harmful? WebMD says some of them may surprise you.
How Can You Detect Liver Cancer Early?
It is often hard to detect liver cancer at early stages because they do not present any symptoms until they are advanced. Small liver tumors are difficult to identify during a physical examination because most of the liver is covered by the rib cage.How Long Can You Live With Liver Cancer?
The overall survival rate of liver cancer patients is low, due to other underlying medical conditions, such as cirrhosis. Generally, a five-year survival rate for all stages of liver cancer is only 15%, but it can vary depending on the extent of cancer spread.
Liver Cancer
Liver cancer is cancer of the liver cells (hepatocellular carcinoma) or of the ducts in the liver (cholangiocarcinoma). Liver cancer often arises due to liver damage, cirrhosis (scarring) caused by alcohol use/abuse, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C. Liver cancer may not cause any symptoms. Liver cancer is diagnosed with blood tests, imaging tests, and a liver biopsy. Treatment for liver cancer may include surgery, ablation, embolization, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.
Liver Disease Quiz
What is liver disease? Take the Liver Disease Quiz and test your knowledge about this organ and its function.
Liver Picture
Front View of the Liver. The liver is a large, meaty organ that sits on the right side of the belly. See a picture of the Liver and learn more about the health topic.
What Is Liver Resection?
Liver resection is a surgical procedure in which a portion of the liver is removed. The operation is generally performed to remove various types of tumors that are located in the liver. The goal of liver resection is to remove the tumor(s) and the surrounding liver tissue without leaving any tumor tissue behind.
Liver-Related Procedures and Tests
There are a variety of liver procedures and blood tests. Information on liver biopsy, liver blood tests, liver resection, proton beam therapy of the liver, and more are included in this information.
What Is the Survival Rate for Childhood Liver Cancer?
The survival rate of childhood liver cancer is over 80% if the tumor is located only in the liver and can be removed through surgery. If the tumor spreads beyond the liver, the survival rate can range from 20% to 70% in three to five years after diagnosis.
What Is the Main Cause of Liver Cancer?
The exact cause of liver cancer is not known. Researchers have revealed that liver cancer occurs when the cells in the liver grow uncontrollably because of an abnormal change in their genetic material (mutation).