Update in management of hepatocellular carcinoma in Eastern population

Area of Science:

• Hepatology and Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent malignancy, particularly in Eastern Asia.
• Current HCC management, often guided by Western staging systems, may be too conservative for the large patient populations in Asia.
• HCC is intrinsically linked to chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, necessitating integrated treatment approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent scientific and clinical progress in HCC diagnosis and staging.
• To describe current treatment modalities for HCC, including curative and palliative options.
• To highlight advances in pre-operative liver function assessment for HCC patients in Eastern countries.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on HCC diagnosis, staging, and treatment.
• Analysis of established and emerging therapeutic strategies for HCC.
• Emphasis on patient selection criteria tailored to Eastern healthcare contexts.

Main Results:

• Significant advances have been made in diagnostic accuracy and staging precision for HCC.
• Multiple treatment modalities exist, including surgical resection, liver transplantation, ablation, locoregional therapies, and systemic treatments.
• Curative options like resection, transplantation, and ablation are effective for early-stage HCC.
• Novel approaches like portal vein embolization aim to expand resectability, though long-term data are pending.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing patient selection is crucial for successful HCC treatment outcomes.
• Eastern countries require tailored approaches to HCC management due to high patient prevalence.
• Continued research into advanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies is essential for improving HCC patient survival and quality of life.