CancerQuest | Section Sumary: Liver Cancer

Introduction

· Liver cancer is the fifth major cause of cancer related deaths in the U.S.

· In the U.S., this cancer is the seventh most common cancer in women and the fifth in men

Types of Liver Cancer

· Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form, patients are usually over 50.

· Cholangiocarcinoma arises from the connective tissues of the bile ducts.

· Hepatoblastoma characteristically develops in children.

Risk Factors

· Infection with hepatitis C is the leading cause of HCC in Western countries.

· Alcohol-related liver disease is the second most common risk factor for HCC in the U.S

· More than 80% of HCC cases appear in Eastern Asia or sub-Saharan Africa

· Males have a higher liver cancer rate than females, presumably due to different exposure to risk factors.

· Liver cancer risk increases with age.

· Those who infected with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) have a 5 to 15 fold increased risk of developing HCC over the general population.

· Liver cancer is frequently found in patients with metabolic disorders.

o A significant relationship has been found between diabetes and HCC.

Symptoms and Detection

· Liver cancer rarely presents with specific symptoms.

· Nonspecific symptoms that can be associated with HCC include jaundice, anorexia, weight loss, and abdominal pain.

Staging and Pathology Report

· A sample of liver tissue is examined micro- and macroscopically in order to create a pathology report.

· The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system is has four-stages.

· The T/N/M system assigns a degree of severity based on size, location, and spread of the cancer in the body

Tumor Biology

· Mutations in p53 have a critical role in the development of HCC

· The disruption of the pRb pathway seen in HCC is similar to that of other cancers.

· NOTCH 2 contributes to hepatoblastoma by preventing a population of hepatoblasts from differentiating.

Treatment

· Treatment options for HCC depend on how well the liver is functioning, the tumor stage, and the physical status of the patient.