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. 2019 Jun;6(2):104-111.
doi: 10.1007/s40471-019-00188-3. Epub 2019 May 3.

The changing epidemiology of primary liver cancer

Jessica L Petrick  1 , Katherine A McGlynn  1
Affiliations

The changing epidemiology of primary liver cancer

Jessica L Petrick et al. Curr Epidemiol Rep. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose of review: In prior decades, liver cancer was viewed as a neoplasm that almost exclusively arose among high-risk populations in low- and middle-income countries. Incidence rates in some high-risk populations, however, have been declining, while rates in low-risk populations have been increasing, reflecting changes in underlying etiology. In this review, we highlight the evolving epidemiology of liver cancer, focusing on recent research and advances.

Recent findings: Efforts to reduce or eliminate the risk associated with major risk factors such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) have met with some success. As opposed to these favorable trends, the joint epidemics of obesity and diabetes have begun to affect liver cancer rates around the world.

Summary: While there has been progress in combating the effects of some risk factors, the increasing prevalence of others poses a major threat to attempts to tackle the rising incidence of liver cancer globally.

Keywords: Non-alcohol fatty liver disease; aflatoxin; hepatitis B virus; hepatitis C virus; hepatocellular carcinoma; obesity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Jessica L. Petrick and Katherine A. McGlynn each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Trends in liver cancer incidence rates in males and females by country, 1978–2012. (Bray F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Zanetti R and Ferlay J, editors. Cancer incidence in five continents, volumes I to XI: IARC CANCERBase No. 11 [Internet], Available at: http://ci5.iarc.fr. Accessed November 20, 2018.)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Bray F, Colombet M, Mery L, Piñeros M, Znaor A, Zanetti R and Ferlay J, editors. Cancer incidence in five continents, volumes I to XI: IARC CANCERBase No. 11 [Internet], Available at: http://ci5.iarc.fr. Accessed November 20, 2018.

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