Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer as well as the third highest cause of mortality linked to cancer in the world. In particular, a subtype of liver cancer known as hepatocellular carcinoma represents around 80% of all cases of liver cancer. Given the increasing illness of hepatocellular carcinoma in the world, a commission made up of experts in a wide range of fields – from clinical medicine to public health – has now been created to solve this problem.
Recently, in a full report published online in Lancet On July 28, 2025, the members of this commission, chaired by Professor Masatoshi Kudo of the University of Kindai as well as Professor Jian Zhou and Professor Jia Fan of Fudan University in China, presented their results, emphasizing the need to fight against the burden of diseases posed by the hepatocelular carcinoma. The content of this report involved a systematic process made up of generation of ideas, literature reviews, framing of evidence, new data synthesis, modeling, as well as case studies analyzes to provide examples of the real world.
First, the authors of this report carried out analyzes to project the future trends in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma by 2050. More specifically, they aimed to define concrete objectives to reduce the load of hepatocellular carcinoma in the world. One of these objectives, as defined in the report, indicates that an annual reduction of at least 2% is necessary in the incidence rates standardized by the age of liver cancer to combat its charge of increasing disease. On a more positive note, there are a number of modifiable risk factors for liver cancer, including hepatitis B and C as well as alcohol consumption. “Based on a prudent estimate, at least 60% of liver cancer is avoidable by controlling these risk factors”, ” Notes Prof. Kudo.
Given these projections and objectives for the year 2050, the authors presented a set of ten recommendations based on evidence to combat hepatocellular carcinoma which is part of a few major themes: disease prevention, early detection and treatment. In addition, they highlighted the need to fight against the disparities that exist in terms of access to these three aspects of health care. In particular, this is also covered by the ten recommendations.
Viral hepatitis is a well -known risk factor for liver cancer – for beginners, the Commission has recommended the strengthening of prevention, screening and treatment of viral hepatitis. For more in -depth prevention of liver cancer, other recommendations have focused on reducing alcohol consumption through government measures, control of environmental risk factors (such as contaminated water) and the development of strategies to combat related diseases such as MASLD (hepatic steatohepatitis associated with metabolic dysfunction). In addition, an emphasis on awareness of the health of the liver throughout the community.
The Committee also recommended that surveillance strategies be improved for early liver cancer detection, especially in high -risk populations. In terms of treatment, there should be an effort to improve the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma while approaching the differences between East and West in terms of clinical management. Finally, new health care models are required which improve access to treatment, even in low and intermediate income countries.
Although these recommendations provide a solid framework to combat hepatocellular carcinoma, the authors warn that there is still a lot of work to do. “The Commission recognizes that the entire process will be progressive and will require the involvement of several stakeholders, including decision -makers, health care providers, international professional organizations, researchers and patient defense groups”, ” said Professor Kudo.
However, they hope that combined efforts will open the doors to the prevention, detection and treatment of liver cancer around the world.
