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Liver cancer

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Liver cancer is a malignant tumor that develops either from hepatocytes (primary tumor) or as a result of metastases from primary cancer in another organ (secondary tumor). The majority of cases are attributed to metastatic liver cancer.

Men are three times more likely to develop liver cancer than women. The five-year survival rate for primary liver cancer is only 20%.

Symptoms indicating the need for diagnosis and treatment

In the early stages, the disease is asymptomatic. As the tumor grows, the following symptoms may develop:

  • Increased fatigue and rapid exhaustion (intoxication syndrome)
  • Pain in the right upper quadrant, radiating to the shoulder
  • Weight loss
  • Swelling of the lower limbs
  • Loss of appetite
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the sclera and skin)
  • Changes in stool color: acholic (pale) stools and “beer-colored” (dark) urine
  • Ascites (abdominal swelling due to fluid accumulation)

In advanced stages of the tumor process, symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and pain in the left upper quadrant. A distinctive feature is the appearance of a vascular pattern of veins on the anterior abdominal wall, known as a “caput medusae.”

Diagnostic and treatment methods

Diagnosis

Laboratory and instrumental tests can detect liver cancer. The first step is a blood test to assess liver function (aminotransferase levels) and tumor markers. A growing tumor produces a specific alpha-fetoprotein, which serves as a direct indicator of a malignant process.

Modern ultrasound machines, used by leading global clinics, enable the visualization of even small tumors. High-resolution CT and MRI technologies make it possible to accurately stage cancers.

Treatment

Treatment methods for liver cancer depend on the patient’s age, comorbidities, tumor type, and its stage of progression.

Surgical treatment:

Surgical removal (resection) of part of the liver, preserving at least 35% of healthy tissue.
Liver transplantation from a donor.

Targeted treatments:

  • Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): tumor destruction by heating.
  • Cryoablation: tumor destruction using low temperatures.
  • Chemoembolization: injecting medication through the vascular network.
  • Radiation therapy: leading global clinics use external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) that spares healthy tissues.

Additionally, other widely used methods for combating liver cancer include: targeted therapy (blocking tumor growth) and chemotherapy (damaging cancer cells).

Innovations in global clinics

Liver transplantation for cancer cases has been reduced to 15% due to advancements in patient selection methods. At the same time, its outcomes have significantly improved: the five-year survival rate has increased to 70%, and the recurrence rate does not exceed 10%. The decision to proceed with a transplant is made by a multidisciplinary tumor board based on the universally recognized Milan criteria.