What new treatments are there for liver cancer in recent years? How do patients with liver cancer choose treatment?

Liver cancer refers to a malignant tumor that occurs in hepatocytes or intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells. It is one of the most common malignant tumors in my country, and its mortality rate ranks second among malignant tumors. The disease is more common in middle-aged and elderly men. The early symptoms are not obvious. When the clinical manifestations are obvious, it is not suitable to enter the middle and late stages. At present, the main methods for treating liver cancer are surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiofrequency ablation. The choice of different treatment methods requires a comprehensive judgment based on the degree of progression of the patient's disease and the patient's personal constitution. So, regarding the relevant issues about the treatment of liver cancer, we invited Chen Fengsheng, deputy chief physician of the Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine of Southern Medical University, to give us relevant answers.

What new treatments for liver cancer have been developed in recent years?

At present, the treatment methods and means for liver cancer mainly include the following: 1. Surgery; 2. Radiotherapy; 3. Chemotherapy; 4. Targeted therapy; 5. Immunotherapy. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy have developed rapidly in recent years, and these drug treatments have achieved very good therapeutic effects, whether used alone or in combination.

How do patients with liver cancer choose treatment?

The choice of treatment for liver cancer patients needs to be comprehensively judged based on the degree of disease progression and the patient's personal constitution. In order to achieve a cure for early-stage liver cancer patients, it is usually recommended to use surgical resection, microwave ablation, radiofrequency ablation and other methods to completely cure the tumor. Liver transplantation can also be performed if necessary. Patients with mid- to late-stage cancer need to use a combination of local treatment methods such as TACE, hepatic artery intervention, radiotherapy, systemic immunotherapy, chemotherapy and other methods.

If liver cancer cannot be cured by surgery, is it incurable?

If liver cancer cannot be treated surgically, other treatment options are available. With the continuous development of modern medical technology, corresponding treatment options have been gradually introduced for patients with liver cancer who cannot undergo surgery, such as comprehensive diagnosis and treatment using TACE treatment, ablation treatment, and drug treatment, or patients who cannot undergo surgery can be transformed into patients who can undergo surgery through corresponding treatments. This method can even completely cure the patient's tumor disease.

With the continuous development of modern medical technology, the main means of treating liver cancer are increasing. If patients cannot undergo surgical treatment, other treatment methods can be selected. For patients with early liver cancer, liver cancer surgery is likely to cure the disease, but regular follow-up and observation are required after surgery. For patients in the middle and late stages, active comprehensive treatment can prolong survival time.