Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): Causes. Treatments. Overview

Liver cancer, primarily hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which often develops in the context of cirrhosis, is the second most lethal cancer worldwide. Its mortality is persistently rising in Europe, North and South America, and Africa, whereas in East Asia, there is a decreasing trend. In 2013, cirrhosis was estimated to cause over 1.2 million deaths (2% of global deaths), marking a 47% increase since 1990. Cirrhosis and HCC are major life-limiting consequences of progressive fibrotic liver diseases, which are mainly caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), alcohol abuse, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).