Liver Cancer News

More News & In Depth Liver Cancer Information

CancerConsultants provides summaries of new treatment strategies as they are discovered and reported by cancer physicians around the world. Our medical staff attends medical meetings worldwide and reviews medical literature daily to ensure appropriate news is provided to cancer patients and their families in a timely manner.

News of the results of recent clinical trials evaluating cancer therapies and supportive care strategies serve to educate patients regarding new treatment strategies for cancer and facilitate discussions with their doctor. Development of new cancer treatments usually begins in patients with recurrent or metastatic cancers. Once the new treatment appears effective, it is applied to earlier stages of the disease or to patients at higher risk of treatment failure.

Latest Liver Cancer News

Genetic Characteristics of Hepatitis B Associated with Risk of Liver Cancer (08/29/2008)
Different genetic characteristics of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) are associated with varying risks of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Nexavar® Improves Survival in Advanced Liver Cancer (07/24/2008)
The targeted agent Nexavar (sorafenib) is associated with improved survival and doubling of the time to cancer progression for patients with advanced liver cancer. These results were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

New Treatment Combination for Bile Duct Cancer May Improve Survival (05/06/2008)
A recent study indicates that the combination of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatiography (ERCP) may improve survival for patients with bile duct cancer. These findings were published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Invasive Measures May Improve Outcome for Patients with Liver Cancer (04/16/2008)
A recent study reveals that a combination of chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation is more effective than either treatment alone for patients with larger liver tumors. These findings were published in Journal of the American Medical Association.

Sutent® Active in Liver Cancer (04/16/2008)
Sutent® (sunitinib) reduces the risk of cancer spread and the rate of cancer growth among patients with a form of liver cancer known as hepatocellular carcinoma. These results were presented as a late-breaking abstract at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

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Latest Liver Cancer News by Stage

Screening/Prevention

Liver Cancer Screening in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B and C Improves Survival (04/03/2008)
Researchers in Hong Kong have reported that screening patients with chronic hepatitis for liver cancer improves liver cancer survival rates and may improve chances for cure. The details of the study were published in the Annals for Surgery.

Increased Risk of Liver Cancer for Patients with Cirrhosis Who Overexpress EGF (01/03/2008)
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, patients with cirrhosis of the liver who overexpress epithelial growth factor (EGF) in the liver have a significantly increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). Patients who overexpress EGF may benefit from enhanced screening for liver cancer.

Meat Linked to Various Cancers (12/13/2007)
According to an article recently published in the Public Library of Science Medicine journal, increased consumption of beef, pork, lamb, or processed meats such as bacon, sausage, or ham significantly increases the risk of developing several types of cancers.

Hispanics in the U.S. Have Higher Rates of Liver Cancer (10/09/2007)
According to results recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Hispanics living in the United States have a high rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. These rates have increased among this population since the 1990s.

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Stages I-III

Differences in IMRT Radiation Doses May Complicate Study Results in Liver Cancer (04/04/2008)
Differences between the prescribed dose of radiation in intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and the dose that’s actually delivered may make comparison studies in liver cancer difficult to interpret. These findings were reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Updates on the Management of Advanced Hepato-pancreato-biliary Malignancies (10/21/2007)
A Report from the 14th European Cancer Conference (ECCO)

Addition of Nexavar® to Adriamycin® Improves Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (10/01/2007)
According to results recently presented at the 2007 European Cancer Organization (ECCO 14), the addition of the targeted agent Nexavar® (sorafenib) to the chemotherapy agent Adriamycin® (doxorubicin) improves survival as initial therapy among patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a form of liver cancer.

Higher Hospital Volume Linked with Better Survival After Gastrointestinal Surgery (11/08/2006)
According to the results of a study conducted in Taiwan, patients with stomach, liver, colorectal, or esophageal cancers have better survival after surgery if the surgery is performed in a hospital that handles a greater number of these surgeries. These results were published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology.

Sustained Response to TACE Linked with Lower Recurrence Risk after Liver Transplantation (08/10/2006)
Among liver cancer patients who are potential candidates for liver transplantation, those who experience a sustained response to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) appear to have a lower risk of cancer recurrence after liver transplantation. These results were published in the journal Liver Transplantation.

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Stage IV

Updates on the Management of Advanced Hepato-pancreato-biliary Malignancies (10/21/2007)
A Report from the 14th European Cancer Conference (ECCO)

Further Evidence that Nexavar® Improves Liver Cancer Survival Among Different Ethnic Groups (08/29/2007)
A Phase III clinical trial (phase prior to FDA review) comparing Nexavar® (sorafenib) to placebo has provided further evidence that Nexavar improves survival in patients of different ethnicity with advanced liver cancer.

Nexavar® Improves Survival in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (06/08/2007)
According to results from a late-breaking session presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the targeted agent Nexavar® (sorafenib) improves survival as initial therapy among patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Interferon Following Surgery May Improve Survival in Advanced Liver Cancer (05/31/2007)
According to an article recently published in the Annals of Surgery, administration of the immune stimulating agent interferon following surgery may improve survival among patients with advanced hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

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Recurrent

Arterial Embolization Effective in Patients with Liver Cancer Recurrence (06/26/2006)
In selected patients who have a cancer recurrence following surgical removal of liver cancer, arterial embolization (blocking the arteries that supply blood to a tumor) appears to produce good survival results. These results were published in the journal Cancer.

Repeat Surgery for Recurrent Liver Cancer Provides Long-Term Survival in Subset of Patients (10/30/2003)
According to results recently published in the Annals of Surgery, repeat surgery for recurrent liver cancer provides long-term survival in a subset of patients.

Radiofrequency Ablation Reduces Local Recurrences Compared to Cryosurgery for Treatment of Inoperable Liver Cancer or Metastasis to the Liver (01/09/2003)
According to a recent article published in the Archives of Surgery, radiofrequency ablation appears to be superior to cryosurgery for the treatment of inoperable liver cancer or metastasis to the liver.

Doxil® Produces Anti-Cancer Responses in Advanced Cancers of the Liver and Bile Duct (10/14/2002)
According to results presented at the 38th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Doxil® produces anti-cancer responses in patients with advanced cancers of the liver (hepatocellular) and bile duct (cholangiocarcinoma).

Surgery to Remove Liver Cancer Is Safe in Many, but Risk for Recurrence Remains (02/14/2002)
Surgery to remove some liver cancers can be performed safely in persons who are otherwise in good health; however, the risk for cancer recurrence remains high after such a procedure. According to a recent study by Italian researchers, an aggressive approach to preventing such recurrences may be warranted.

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