Hepatology/Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer, accounting for around 85% of cases. It is a major health problem particularly in areas endemic with hepatitis B viral infection (HBV). It is the second most common leading cause of death due to cancer worldwide.
Epidemiology
[edit | edit source]Geographic Distribution
[edit | edit source]The rates of HCC are highest at Subsaharan Africa and Far East Asia.
Pathogenesis
[edit | edit source]SOCS-1 can be considered a tumour suppressor gene that is epigenetically silenced through methylation of its promotor region. A recent meta-analysis showed the SOCS-1 promotor was found to be methylated in HCC cases around 3 times more frequently than in surrounding normal tissue or in benign tumours.[1]
Treatment
[edit | edit source]Evaluation of response to sorafenib
[edit | edit source]A study that was done in Japan suggested the use of contrast-based ultrasound to assess the arrival time of the contrast to the liver, and used those measurements as an indicator for response to sorafenib.[2]