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Review
. 2012 Mar 31;379(9822):1245-55.
doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61347-0. Epub 2012 Feb 20.

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Alejandro Forner  1 , Josep M Llovet, Jordi Bruix
Affiliations
Review

Hepatocellular carcinoma

Alejandro Forner et al. Lancet. .

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the sixth most prevalent cancer and the third most frequent cause of cancer-related death. Patients with cirrhosis are at highest risk of developing this malignant disease, and ultrasonography every 6 months is recommended. Surveillance with ultrasonography allows diagnosis at early stages when the tumour might be curable by resection, liver transplantation, or ablation, and 5-year survival higher than 50% can be achieved. Patients with small solitary tumours and very well preserved liver function are the best candidates for surgical resection. Liver transplantation is most beneficial for individuals who are not good candidates for resection, especially those within Milano criteria (solitary tumour ≤5 cm and up to three nodules ≤3 cm). Donor shortage greatly limits its applicability. Percutaneous ablation is the most frequently used treatment but its effectiveness is limited by tumour size and localisation. In asymptomatic patients with multifocal disease without vascular invasion or extrahepatic spread not amenable to curative treatments, chemoembolisation can provide survival benefit. Findings of randomised trials of sorafenib have shown survival benefits for individuals with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, suggesting that molecular-targeted therapies could be effective in this chemoresistant cancer. Research is active in the area of pathogenesis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

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Comment in

  • Hepatocellular carcinoma.
    Ren W, Qi X, Jia J, Yang M, Han G. Ren W, et al. Lancet. 2012 Aug 4;380(9840):469; author reply 470-1. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61283-5. Lancet. 2012. PMID: 22863043 No abstract available.
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma.
    van den Bosch MA, Defreyne L. van den Bosch MA, et al. Lancet. 2012 Aug 4;380(9840):469-70; author reply 470-1. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61284-7. Lancet. 2012. PMID: 22863044 No abstract available.
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma.
    Braillon A. Braillon A. Lancet. 2012 Aug 4;380(9840):469; author reply 470-1. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61282-3. Lancet. 2012. PMID: 22863045 No abstract available.
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma.
    Oliveri RS, Wetterslev J, Gluud C. Oliveri RS, et al. Lancet. 2012 Aug 4;380(9840):470; author reply 470-1. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61285-9. Lancet. 2012. PMID: 22863046 No abstract available.

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