Treatment Options for Liver Cancer
May 12, 2021
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Dahai
Introduction
1. Surgical treatment, including segmentectomy, local hepatectomy, and lobectomy; liver transplantation is also a highly effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma.
2. Interventional therapy—regional locoregional chemotherapy performed by catheterization via the femoral artery to deliver anticancer drugs or embolic agents into the hepatic artery.
3. Radiation therapy—for patients unsuitable for surgical resection.
4. Biological therapy—primarily immunotherapy.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an extremely serious and frightening disease, one that many people greatly fear. HCC poses significant threats—not only to patients’ quality of life and survival but also due to its typically rapid progression.
Treatment Options for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
1. Surgical Treatment
Surgical approaches are selected based on the patient’s overall health status, degree of liver cirrhosis, and tumor location and size. Procedures include segmentectomy, local resection, lobectomy, hemihepatectomy, and trisegmentectomy. However, surgery carries substantial risks and notable adverse effects. Liver transplantation represents a relatively effective treatment for HCC, yet it faces major limitations: first, severe shortage of donor livers; second, high surgical risk and potential for immune rejection.
2. Interventional Therapy
Interventional therapy for HCC involves selective catheterization via the femoral artery to deliver chemotherapeutic agents or embolic materials directly into the hepatic artery—a form of regional, localized chemotherapy. While interventional therapy demonstrates measurable efficacy, outcomes are suboptimal for large tumors. Moreover, it may still cause damage to healthy hepatocytes, and in rare cases, lead to hepatic insufficiency.
3. Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is suitable for patients with good general condition and preserved liver function—those without cirrhosis, jaundice, ascites, hypersplenism, or esophageal varices—and whose tumors remain localized without distant metastasis. It serves as a primary modality in comprehensive treatment regimens for patients who are not candidates for surgical resection or who experience postoperative recurrence.
4. Biological Therapy
Biological therapy primarily encompasses immunotherapy. Immunosuppression in HCC patients has been widely documented, supporting the rationale for immunotherapeutic and biological interventions. Although biological therapy holds considerable promise, numerous challenges and limitations persist. Even when multiple biological response modifiers are administered—and several immunological parameters return to normal—complete eradication of cancer cells often remains unattainable, and tumor progression may not be halted.
The above outlines the principal treatment modalities available for hepatocellular carcinoma. We hope this information proves helpful to you.
