Latest news with #LancetCommission
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Health expert on the risk factors for liver cancer
Liver cancer cases are projected to increase significantly, from 0.87 million in 2022 to 1.52 million by 2050, according to a Lancet Commission on Liver Cancer report. Rising obesity rates are a major contributing factor, with the proportion of liver cancer cases linked to obesity expected to double from 5 per cent to 11 per cent. Around three out of four cancers that start in the liver are hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which frequently develops in livers scarred by conditions such as excessive alcohol consumption or Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). Early stages of liver cancer often show no symptoms, but advanced signs include jaundice, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue, with diagnosis typically involving ultrasound, CT, and MRI scans. Treatment options are diverse, ranging from curative surgeries like liver resection, transplant, or ablation for early detection, to other methods such as chemoembolisation for more advanced cases.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
The simple changes that could prevent three in five liver cancer cases
Simple lifestyle changes could drastically cut cases of liver cancer, according to academics. The Lancet Commission on liver cancer found that three in five liver cancer cases could be prevented by reducing alcohol consumption and obesity and by increasing uptake of the hepatitis vaccine. The number of new liver cancers around the world will rise from 0.87 million in 2022 to 1.52 million in 2050, according to the experts' projections. The proportion of cases of liver cancer linked to obesity are set to increase from 5 per cent to 11 per cent, the group said. By 2050, some 21 per cent of liver cancers will be caused by alcohol, they said. And 11 per cent will be caused by a severe form of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) – formerly known as fatty liver disease, where fat builds up in a person's liver. The severe form of this condition is called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. The research team said that 60 per cent of liver cancers are preventable. They said that global deaths from liver cancer are expected to rise from 760,000 in 2022 to 1.37 million in 2050. 'These data suggest that preventive measures targeting a comprehensive number of risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma are sorely needed,' the team of experts, led by academics in Hong Kong, wrote. The main treatment for MASLD is eating a balanced diet, being physically active and potentially losing weight. 'Liver cancer is a growing health issue around the world,' said Professor Jian Zhou, chairman of the Commission from Fudan University in China. 'It is one of the most challenging cancers to treat, with five-year survival rates ranging from approximately 5 per cent to 30 per cent. 'We risk seeing close to a doubling of cases and deaths from liver cancer over the next quarter of a century without urgent action to reverse this trend.' First author, Professor Stephen Chan, from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, added: 'As three in five cases of liver cancer are linked to preventable risk factors, mostly viral hepatitis, alcohol and obesity, there is a huge opportunity for countries to target these risk factors, prevent cases of liver cancer and save lives.' Commenting on the study, Pamela Healy, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said: 'Liver cancer is the fastest rising cause of cancer death in the UK, and just 13 per cent of people diagnosed will survive for five years or more. 'We know that the biggest risk factors are having pre-existing liver cirrhosis or viral hepatitis, and this new analysis highlights that MASLD, also known as fatty liver disease, is expected to be linked to an increasing number of cases. 'As well as improving early detection through surveillance of people with cirrhosis, it is essential that we tackle these underlying causes and prioritise public health. 'By supporting people to maintain a healthy weight, cut down on alcohol and get tested and treated for hepatitis, we can prevent many cases of liver cancer and save lives.' In 2022, some 64 per cent of adults in England were estimated to be overweight or obese.
Medscape
2 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Obesity-linked Liver Cancer Preventable, but Rising
At least 60% of liver cancers globally are preventable through risk-factor reduction, including obesity-linked metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and cases caused by viral hepatitis or alcohol consumption. That's a key message from a new Lancet Commission report on addressing the global hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) burden, published online on July 28 to coincide with World Hepatitis Day. The burden of new liver cancer cases is projected to increase to 1.52 million, and liver cancer-related deaths are projected to increase to 1.37 million by 2050, the commission pointed out. In addition, the share of liver cancer cases caused by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a severe form of MASLD, is expected to increase by 35% (8%-11%) by 2050. The commission called for increased public, medical, and political awareness of the rising risk for MASLD — especially in the US, Europe, and Asia — with a focus on high-risk groups, such as those with diabetes and/or obesity. With the number of new liver cancer cases predicted to double over the next 25 years without urgent action, the Commission set a target for an annual reduction of 2%-5% in the number of new cases. This could prevent up to 17 million liver cancer cases and up to 15 million deaths, if achieved. 10 Recommendations Overall, the commission suggested 10 strategies for reducing the global burden of liver cancer and improving patients' quality of life. These include: 1. Strengthening viral hepatitis prevention, screening, and treatment, including integrating hepatitis B virus vaccination into national immunization schedules and targeted hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening. 2. Reducing alcohol consumption using 'strong government-led measures,' such as warning labels and advertisement restrictions. 3. Controlling environmental risk factors, especially exposure to contaminated water and aflatoxins in food in low- and middle-income countries. 4. Preparing for the increase in MASLD and MASH with tailored national strategies for awareness, screening, and management. 5. Raising awareness of liver health among policy makers and the general population. 6. Improving early HCC detection by optimizing the performance of surveillance tests and technologies. 7. Standardizing noninvasive diagnoses of HCC with standardized criteria for interpreting imaging studies. 8. Addressing East-West differences in clinical management through collaborative efforts of professional organizations and the pharmaceutical industry to achieve consensus and a clear action plan. 9. Improving HCC survivorship through research, clinical documentation of outcomes, complications and treatment response, and integration of palliative care in the early phases for patients in need. 10. Facilitating access to treatment for HCV and HCC, which currently is limited mainly due to high cost and lack of cost-effectiveness. Zeroing in on Obesity The rate of MASLD-linked liver cancer is expected to rise over the next decade, particularly in the US, Europe, and Asia, due to increasing rates of obesity, the report authors warned. In the US, MASLD prevalence continues to climb in parallel with the obesity epidemic; by 2040, over 55% of US adults could have MASLD, the commission predicted. 'Liver cancer was once thought to occur mainly in patients with viral hepatitis or alcohol-related liver disease,' commission author Hashem B El-Serag, MD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, commented in a press release. 'However, today rising rates of obesity are an increasing risk factor for liver cancer, primarily due to the increase in cases of excess fat around the liver.' El-Serag suggested including screening for liver damage into routine healthcare practice for patients at high risk for MASLD, such as individuals living with obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. 'Healthcare professionals should also integrate lifestyle counselling into routine care to support patients to transition to a healthy diet and regular physical activity,' he said. 'Furthermore, policy makers must promote healthy food environments via policies such as sugar taxes and clear labelling on products with high fat, salt, and/or sugar.' In a related editorial, The Lancet editorial board concluded, 'The message of the Commission — that strengthening prevention, fostering collaboration, and removing social and knowledge barriers can help avert the rapid rise of liver cancer — is one of possibility. Taking action to realize that possibility is vital for the health of many millions of people worldwide over the next 25 years.' The Commission was supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China, Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases-National Science and Technology Major Project, and Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project. A list of authors with competing interests is available in the report.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
3 in 5 liver cancer cases due to preventable risk factors, obesity-linked cases spiralling, says Lancet study: Why our lifestyle matters even more
The Lancet Commission has estimated that at least 60 per cent of liver cancers are preventable if we can control modifiable risk factors like hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), non-alcoholic fatty liver and alcohol. Researchers have predicted that the share of liver cancer cases caused by a severe form of fatty liver called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) will increase by 35 per cent (8 per cent to 11 per cent) by 2050. They have further predicted that if countries can reduce the incidence of liver cancer cases by 2 to 5 per cent each year by 2050, they could prevent nine to 17 million new cases of liver cancer and save eight to 15 million lives. Stephen Lam Chan from the Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, and other authors of the Commission have called for increased public, medical and political awareness about high-risk groups, including individuals with diabetes and obesity. Current liver cancer burden in India Dr Sheetal Dhadphale, Director, Hepatology and Transplant Medicine, Sahyadri Hospitals, Pune, said that the current incidence of liver cancer ranges from 2.15 to 2.27 per lakh of population while the mortality is 2.21 per lakh. 'Liver cancers due to Hepatitis B are slightly decreasing but those related to alcohol and MASLD are increasing. Awareness campaigns and focussed treatments are necessary to combat this spiral,' she explained. Liver cancer is amongst the fastest growing cancers, said Dr Shiv Kumar Sarin, founding director, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi. He flagged concern over the rise in the number of people living with obesity, diabetes and fatty liver disease. 'Studies have shown that for 100 cases of liver cancer, 35 to 40 are among those with diabetes and fatty liver disease,' he said. What about liver screening? Lancet authors advocate screening for liver damage into routine healthcare practice for patients in the high risk group. 'Healthcare professionals should also integrate lifestyle counselling into routine care to support patients to transition to a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Furthermore, policy makers must promote a healthy food environment via policies such as sugar taxes and clear labelling on products with high fat, salt, and/or sugar,' they said. Why public health policies need to target obesity, alcohol consumption Liver cancer is already a major cause of death and disability. Globally, it's the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of death from cancer. Chair of the Commission, Prof Jian Zhou, Fudan University (China) said, 'Liver cancer is one of the most challenging cancers to treat, with five-year survival rates ranging from approximately 5 per cent to 30 per cent. We risk seeing close to a doubling of cases and deaths from liver cancer over the next quarter of a century without urgent action to reverse this trend.' According to Prof Chan, Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China), 'As three in five cases of liver cancer are linked to preventable risk factors, mostly viral hepatitis, alcohol and obesity, there is a huge opportunity for countries to target these risk factors, prevent cases of liver cancer and save lives.' How to reduce risk factors The commission highlights several ways to reduce these risk factors, including increasing the coverage of the hepatitis B vaccine and public health policies targeting obesity and alcohol consumption. It even urges governments to intensify efforts for increasing HBV vaccination — such as vaccine mandates in high-prevalence countries — and implement universal HBV screening for adults 18+, alongside targeted HCV screening in high-risk areas. Policy makers should enact minimum alcohol unit pricing, warning labels and advertisement restrictions for alcoholic beverages. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
What is liver cancer? Expert explains causes, symptoms and how to treat it
The number of liver cancer cases is expected to double by 2050, with rising obesity rates partly responsible, researchers have warned. Experts predict that the share of liver cancer cases linked to obesity will grow from 5 per cent to 11 per cent, urging stronger efforts to prevent avoidable cases. New projections from a Lancet Commission on Liver Cancer report estimate that global liver cancer cases will increase from 0.87 million in 2022 to 1.52 million by 2050. Many adults remain unaware of the risk factors for liver cancer, so we spoke to a medical adviser at the British Liver Trust, Anya Adair, who is also a consultant transplant and hepatobiliary surgeon at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. She shared some key insights into the main causes, symptoms and treatments of this serious disease. What is liver cancer and what causes it? 'Cancer that develops within the liver is primary liver cancer, but when cancers arise from somewhere else in the body and then spread to the liver, that is secondary cancer,' explains Adair. How serious liver cancer is depends on the patient's general health, where the cancer is in the liver, how big it is, if it has spread and if it's primary or secondary cancer. according to the NHS website. 'Liver cancer can develop within the liver tissue, which is called primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),' explains Adair. HCC occurs when cells called hepatocytes start to multiply and grow more than they should, according to the Liver Cancer Trust, part of the British Liver Trust. 'However, cancer can also develop within the bile duct systems in the liver, which is called cholangiocarcinoma,' adds Adair. Around three out of four cancers that start in the liver are HCC, according to the Liver Cancer Trust, which typically develops in livers that are already scarred and damaged, a condition known as cirrhosis. 'You could have a scarred cirrhotic liver due to alcohol consumption, but it can also be because of MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease), previous known as Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease,' highlights Adair. Both autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis (both of which are autoimmune liver diseases) can also lead to a scarred cirrhotic liver if left untreated, she adds. What are some common symptoms? 'The problem with HCC is that it often doesn't present with any symptoms at all,' says Adair. 'So, it is usually found incidentally on a scan that has been done for something else if the person didn't know that they had a scarred liver.' HCC is also sometimes flagged up during a routine ultrasound that people who know they have a cirrhotic liver tend to have. 'Sometimes people with a cirrhotic liver are in surveillance and have ultrasounds every six months because the risk is higher, and during the scan a new swelling or shadow in the liver is picked up,' notes Adair. Although liver cancer is often silent in the beginning stages, Adair highlights that once it becomes more advanced, patients may start to develop symptoms such as jaundice, unexplained weight loss, tiredness and/or nausea. 'Anyone who develops jaundice should seek urgent medical attention, and unexplained weight loss in particular is also an alarm bell,' says Adair. How is it diagnosed? 'Liver cancer is usually spotted on an ultrasound initially, which is then followed by CT and MRI scans,' says Adair. 'So, it's usually a radiological diagnosis, and in some situations you need a biopsy for confirmation.' What are the treatment options? 'There are a lot of treatment options depending on how bad your liver disease is, how many cancers in the liver you have, how big they are and what your general fitness is,' explains Adair. There are several curative options, including surgery. 'If the cancer is picked up relatively early, and you are within transplant criteria, then a liver transplant is a curative option,' says Adair. 'If the liver is working well and there is only one area of cancer, then patients could think about having a liver resection, where you take part of the liver away. 'In addition, patients who have a single lesion that is below three centimetres can opt for ablation.' This minimally invasive procedure uses heat or extreme cold to destroy the targeted tissue, according Liver Cancer UK. There are also other treatment options that help hold the liver cancer tumour at bay or are a bridge to further treatment, such as chemoembolisation (combining chemotherapy with a method to block blood flow to the tumour) or local radiation.
