Hepatocellular Carcinoma
1 medicine
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer, usually developing in a liver already damaged by chronic hepatitis B or cirrhosis. Early disease is treated with surgery or ablation; advanced disease relies on systemic therapy such as sorafenib.
Key facts
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer, arising from hepatocytes, the liver's main functional cells.
- It develops overwhelmingly in a liver already damaged by chronic hepatitis B infection or cirrhosis from any cause.
- Early-stage HCC can be treated with surgery, ablation, or liver transplantation. Advanced or unresectable disease is managed with systemic therapy, chiefly sorafenib, an oral medicine within the oncology range.
- New upper abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, jaundice, or a swollen abdomen should prompt urgent medical evaluation, since HCC often presents late.
What HCC is
Hepatocellular carcinoma arises from hepatocytes, the cells that carry out most of the liver's normal work. It develops almost always on a background of existing liver damage: chronic hepatitis B infection and cirrhosis, whether from alcohol, hepatitis C, or fatty liver disease, are the principal risk factors. Because the tumor grows inside an already-diseased organ, regular monitoring in people with known liver disease helps catch HCC while it is still treatable.
Systemic treatment for advanced HCC
When HCC is caught early, surgery, ablation, or liver transplantation can offer a curative path. For disease that has spread or cannot be removed surgically, systemic therapy becomes the main option. Sorafenib is an oral multikinase inhibitor and was the first systemic agent shown to meaningfully extend survival in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. It works by blocking the growth signals tumor cells rely on and the new blood vessels tumors need to grow. It sits within the broader oncology range and is typically used once local treatments are no longer appropriate.
When to see a doctor
Anyone experiencing new upper abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, jaundice, or a swollen abdomen should seek prompt medical evaluation. HCC often presents late, so early diagnosis, particularly through regular screening in people with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B, meaningfully widens the range of available treatment options.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.