Health. Liver cancer: is a doubling of cases by 2050 inevitable?

Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide.

According to a study According to international experts gathered within the liver cancer commission of the prestigious journal The Lancet, the number of cases of liver cancer is expected to double by 2050.

"Liver cancer "It is a growing health problem worldwide. It is one of the most difficult cancers to treat, with five-year survival rates ranging from around 5% to 30%. We risk seeing the number of cases and deaths from liver cancer almost double over the next quarter century if no urgent action is taken to reverse this trend," warned Commission Chairman Professor Jian Zhou of Fudan University (China) in a July 28 press release.

In fact, 60% of liver cancers worldwide could be avoided by reducing risk factors, namely viral hepatitis (B and C), alcohol consumption and metabolic fatty liver disease (MASDL).

Fatty liver disease, a constantly increasing risk

The latter is of particular concern to experts.

According to their projections, the proportion of cancers for which it will be responsible will increase by 35% by 2050 (currently responsible for 8% of liver cancers, the figure is expected to rise to 11% in 2050).

As a reminder, metabolic hepatic steatosis (non-alcoholic fatty liver) is characterized by an accumulation of fat in the liver.

The study authors call for increased public awareness, particularly in the United States, Europe, and Asia, where rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity, the main risk factors for MASDL, are steadily increasing.

Example in the United States, where "The prevalence of MASLD continues to increase alongside the obesity epidemic; by 2040, more than 55% of American adults could have MASLD," the experts note.

According to them, one-third of the world's population suffers from metabolic fatty liver disease and 20 to 30% of patients will develop metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).

In a severe form of MASDL, fat continues to accumulate and the liver becomes the site of chronic inflammation, hepatitis.

For screening for liver damage in at-risk patients

Experts suggest "to introduce liver injury screening into routine health practices for patients at high risk of MASLD, such as those with obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease."

They also believe it is necessary to mobilize health professionals to disseminate advice on healthy eating and regular physical activity more widely.

They also expect policymakers to tax sugary products and clearly label products that are too fatty, too salty and too sweet.

And although liver cancers linked to viral hepatitis are gradually declining, they remain among the main risk factors.

Experts are also calling for increased vaccination against the hepatitis B virus, particularly by making it mandatory in countries with high infection rates.

They also advocate for the implementation of universal HBV screening for adults aged 18 and over, alongside targeted HCV screening in high-risk areas. As for alcohol, its sale should be subject to more stringent regulations.

For Professor Valérie Paradis (Beaujon Hospital in Clichy), author of the commission, “There is an urgent need to raise social awareness of the seriousness of the growing health problem posed by the increase in liver cancer cases. Compared to other cancers, liver cancer is very difficult to treat, but has more specific risk factors, which help define specific prevention strategies. Through joint and continued efforts, we believe that many cases of liver cancer can be prevented and that the survival and quality of life of liver cancer patients will be significantly improved.”

Source : The Lancet