Liver cancer cases are projected to double, but more than half could be preventable

At least 60% of liver cancers could be preventable, according to an analysis published Monday in The Lancet.

At least 60% of liver cancers could be preventable, according to an analysis published Monday in The Lancet.

Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world, with around 870,000 cases in 2022. That’s projected to increase to 1.52 million cases in 2050, the new report found, if no changes are made.

The leading cause of liver cancer is viral infections, including the hepatitis B and C viruses. Hepatitis B infections — which are preventable with a vaccine — accounted for 39% of liver cancers in 2022. That’s expected to fall slightly, to 36.9%, by 2025. Hepatitis C accounted for 29.1% of liver cancers in 2022 and is also projected to fall, to 25.9%, by 2050.

The proportions of alcohol- and obesity-related liver cancers, however, are projected to rise in the next 25 years. Alcohol accounted for 18.8% of liver cancers in 2022, and that is expected to increase to 21.1% in 2050. The share of liver cancers caused by obesity-related disease is projected to increase from 8% to 10.8% by 2050 due to increasing rates of obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol and other metabolic risk factors.

Dr. Hashem El-Serag, one of the report’s co-authors and chair of the department of medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said the public usually thinks of alcohol as the biggest risk factor for liver cancer.