What is the genetic probability of liver cancer?

In fact, the causes of liver cancer are quite complex. It is the result of the interaction between environmental and genetic factors, which leads to the transformation of normal cells into cancer cells. In the occurrence of liver cancer, which is more important, environmental or genetic? Through the investigation of the families of liver cancer patients, it was found that liver cancer has a familial accumulation phenomenon.

Someone once conducted a survey on the incidence of liver cancer in four groups of people: the first group was people who were blood-related and often lived together; the second group was people who lived together but were not blood-related; the third group was people who did not live together but were blood-related; the fourth group was people who did not live together and were not blood-related. The first group had the highest incidence of liver cancer, followed by the second group, the third group, and the fourth group had the lowest incidence.

This result shows that environmental factors (living together) are more important than blood relationship in the development of liver cancer. However, the incidence rate of the blood-related group is higher than that of the non-blood-related group, indicating that genetic factors also play a role in the development of liver cancer.

Epidemiological surveys of immigrants have found that people who move to other countries or regions still maintain the incidence rate of their home country or region. In addition, patients with certain genetic diseases such as α-antitrypsin deficiency and hemochromatosis have a greater risk of liver cancer, but the incidence rate of these genetic diseases is very low.