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Cancer types

Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is most often hepatocellular carcinoma and frequently arises in a liver already damaged by chronic disease, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis.

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Ilustrasi editorial hati manusia dengan satu nodul tumor ditandai warna kontras
GPC3PD-L1

Not a diagnosis and not final medical advice. Must be reviewed by a doctor.

What is most important to know?

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common form of liver cancer, originating from the liver cells themselves. Another form originates from the bile ducts in the liver.

Because it often appears in livers that have experienced fibrosis or cirrhosis, liver function is an important part in planning therapy, not just tumor size.

The choice of therapy depends greatly on how well the liver functions, the size of the tumor, the number of lesions, and whether there is spread outside the liver.

Liver cancer is a cancer with a high burden in Southeast Asia and East Asia. Country-specific figures are not shown without direct citation of the source.

Liver function shapes the discussion.

Commonly discussed symptoms

  • Pain or fullness in the upper right abdomen.
  • Bloating, satiety quickly, and weight loss.
  • Fatigue and yellow skin or eyes.
  • The stomach enlarges due to fluid accumulation.
  • Easy bruising or bleeding in advanced liver conditions.

These symptoms are not specific. A doctor still needs to assess the cause.

Risk factors

  • Chronic hepatitis B or C infection.
  • Cirrhosis of the liver from any cause, including long-term alcohol consumption.
  • Fatty liver with inflammation in some cases.
  • Exposure to aflatoxins in improperly stored food.

What shapes the options?

Treatment discussions usually follow this path. The more complete each step is, the more focused the discussion with your doctor becomes.

  1. Diagnosis

    Confirmed through pathology review.

  2. Subtype

    2 subtypes discussed on this page.

  3. Stage

    Determination of staging in liver cancer rarely uses TNM alone. The system used in practice usually combines the size and number of tumors, liver function, and the patient's general condition.

  4. Biomarkers

    Relevant markers: GPC3, PD-L1.

  5. Treatment history

    Each previous line affects the next option.

  6. Progression?

    If the disease progresses, reassessment and molecular testing are usually discussed.

  7. Next step

    Further evaluation, clinical trials, or a second opinion.

Early disease

One lesion or several small lesions with preserved liver function, so local therapy with curative intent can be considered.

Intermediate disease

Multiple lesions without distant spread; local therapy through blood vessels is often the main topic.

Advanced disease

Tumour with blood vessel invasion or spread outside the liver; systemic therapy is the main topic.

Severely impaired liver function

The liver condition no longer allows aggressive cancer therapy; focus shifts to symptom control.

Relevant biomarkers

Molecular testing shapes categories, not decisions

Biomarker results open categories worth discussing. The final choice still considers stage, general condition, treatment history and the doctor's assessment.
Ilustrasi reseptor di permukaan sel dengan molekul ligan yang mendekat

  • GPC3

    GPC3 is a protein that appears frequently in certain types of liver cancer.

    Immunohistochemistry (IHC) · Next-generation sequencing (NGS)

    View biomarker →

  • PD-L1

    PD-L1 is a protein that can help cancer cells evade the immune system.

    PD-L1 immunohistochemistry · Tumour tissue biopsy

    View biomarker →

Progression and resistance concepts

  • Progression in liver cancer can take the form of growth of existing lesions, the appearance of new lesions in the liver, invasion of blood vessels, or spread to other organs.
  • Liver function may change during therapy, and these changes influence the choice of subsequent therapy as much as changes in the tumor itself.
  • After first-line systemic therapy, subsequent discussions typically consider patient tolerance, history of therapy, and availability of clinical trials.

Treatment options commonly discussed

The actual order and combination are always determined by the team directly examining the patient.

When are clinical trials discussed?

Trial group and treatment history

The studies below are filtered from the public registry. International patient access and site readiness have not been verified.

Clinical trials are usually discussed after standard pathways are mapped, or when biomarker results point to a specifically studied group. There are currently 0 registry records related to Liver cancer, and 0 mention a specific biomarker.

NO DATA

No studies were filtered for this cancer group in the latest registry data.

View all 0 studiesCheck my case match

What should be prepared for a second opinion?

Records usually requested

  • Latest liver imaging results (CT or MRI) and report.
  • Liver function tests and related blood markers.
  • Pathology report if biopsy is performed.
  • Hepatitis treatment records if any.
  • Records of cancer therapy that has been undertaken and its response.

Questions for the oncologist

  • How is my liver function assessed and how do the results influence therapy options?
  • Can my tumor still be treated with local procedures such as ablation or embolization?
  • Is systemic therapy right for me, and what is the basis for considering it?
  • Do I need to be checked for certain markers before starting therapy?
  • Are there clinical trials that are appropriate for my liver condition and therapy history?

Have GPC3 and PD-L1 been tested in your case?

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Deeper references

A reference section for readers who want details on subtypes, drugs, or every study record.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Draft, not yet medically reviewed

The most common liver cancer, arising from liver cells and usually appearing in a chronically damaged liver.

These tumors often grow on a background of cirrhosis or fibrosis, so liver function often limits therapeutic options as much as the size of the tumor. GPC3 expression is often an additional marker in pathological examination.

Relevant markers

GPC3PD-L1

Stage note

The grading system used in practice combines the size and number of tumors, liver function, and the patient's general condition.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Draft, not yet medically reviewed

Cancer arising from bile ducts inside the liver, discussed separately from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma carcinoma may have actionable molecular markers, including certain gene fusions, so molecular panel examination is more frequently discussed than in HCC.

Relevant markers

MSI / MMR

Stage note

Assessment emphasizes the presence or absence of involvement of the main bile ducts, blood vessels, and spread within and outside the liver.

Next steps

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