Liver Cancer: New Research

Primary liver cancer occurs when cancerous (malignant) cells begin to grow in the tissues of liver. Although many cancers are on the decline, the incidence of primary liver cancer in the United States increased over 70 percent between 1975 and 1995. The increase is linked to rising rates of hepatitis B and C infection – the leading causes of liver cancer. Far more common than primary liver cancer, however, is cancer that occurs when tumours from other parts of the body spread (metastasize) to the liver. The liver is especially vulnerable to invasion by tumour cells and with the exception of the lymph nodes, is the most common site of metastasis. There are two main kinds of liver cancer. Hepatoma and cholangiocarcinoma. Heptoma is cancer of the hepatocytes. (The main functioning liver cell). Hepatoma is primary liver cancer. Hepatoma usually grows in the liver as a ball-like tumour, invading the normal tissue surrounding it. Cancer of the bile duct cells is called cholangiocarcinoma. Cholangiocarcinoma originates in the bile ducts and is often caused by infestation with the liver fluke Clonorchis (a parasite). The cancer grows along the bile ducts in sheets or lines, and is difficult to find on X-ray studies. This book presents the latest new research developments from around the world in the field of liver cancer.