To avoid this increase, countries must achieve at least a 3% annual decline in liver cancer incidence and mortality rates, according to a new report published in the Journal of Hepatology.
Highlights • 905,700 people were diagnosed and 830,200 people died from liver cancer worldwide in 2020. • Liver cancer was among the top three causes of cancer death in 46 countries. • The number of new cases and deaths from liver cancer could increase by >55% by 2040. |
Background and objectives
The burden of liver cancer varies around the world. In this paper, we present updated estimates of the current global burden of liver cancer (incidence and mortality) and provide predictions of the number of cases/deaths through 2040.
Methods
We extracted data on primary liver cancer cases and deaths from the GLOBOCAN 2020 database, which includes 185 countries. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates (ASR) per 100,000 person-years were calculated. Cases and deaths through 2040 were predicted based on incidence and mortality rates for 2020 and global demographic projections for 2040.
Results
In 2020, about 905,700 people were diagnosed and 830,200 people died from liver cancer worldwide. The overall ASRs for liver cancer were 9.5 and 8.7 for new cases and deaths, respectively, per 100,000 people and were highest in East Asia (17.8 new cases, 16.1 deaths), the North Africa (15.2 new cases, 14.5 deaths) and Southeast Asia. Asia (13.7 new cases, 13.2 deaths).
Liver cancer was among the top three causes of cancer death in 46 countries and was among the top five causes of cancer death in 90 countries. ASRs for both incidence and mortality were higher among men than women in all regions of the world (male:female ASR ranged from 1.2 to 3.6).
The number of new cases of liver cancer per year is projected to increase by 55.0% between 2020 and 2040, with 1.4 million people potentially diagnosed in 2040. It is projected that 1.3 million people could die from liver cancer in 2040 (56.4% more than in 2040). 2020).
Conclusions
Liver cancer is a leading cause of death in many countries, and the number of people diagnosed with liver cancer is expected to increase. Efforts to reduce the incidence of preventable liver cancer should be prioritized.
Summary
The burden of liver cancer varies around the world. Liver cancer was among the top three causes of cancer death in 46 countries and was among the top five causes of cancer death in 90 countries worldwide. We predict that the number of cases and deaths will increase over the next 20 years as the world’s population grows. Primary liver cancer due to some causes can be prevented if control efforts are prioritized, and the expected increase in cases may increase the need for resources to manage the care of patients with liver cancer.
Comments
New analysis reveals that primary liver cancer was among the top three causes of cancer death in 46 countries in 2020 and the number of people diagnosed with or dying from primary liver cancer each year could increase by more than 55% by 2040 Researchers call for efforts to control the disease to be prioritized in a new study in the Journal of Hepatology .
"Liver cancer causes an enormous burden of disease worldwide each year," said lead author Isabelle Soerjomataram, MD, PhD, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), Division of Cancer Surveillance, Lyon. , France. “It is also largely preventable by prioritizing control efforts: major risk factors include hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, alcohol consumption, excess body weight, and metabolic conditions.” , including type 2 diabetes.”
"In light of the availability of new and improved global estimates of cancer incidence and mortality, we wanted to provide the most up-to-date assessment of the burden of liver cancer and develop an essential tool for national liver cancer control planning," explained author Harriet Rumgay, PhD candidate, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), Division of Cancer Surveillance, Lyon, France. “In this analysis, we describe where liver cancer ranks among all cancer types for cancer diagnoses and deaths in nations around the world. “We also present predictions of the future burden of liver cancer through 2040.”
The researchers extracted data on primary liver cancer cases and deaths from the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s GLOBOCAN 2020 database, which produces cancer incidence and mortality estimates for 36 cancer types in 185 countries around the world. world. The projected change in the number of cancer cases or deaths by 2040 was estimated using population projections produced by the United Nations.
The results showed that in 2020, approximately 905,700 people were diagnosed with liver cancer and 830,200 died from liver cancer worldwide. According to these data, liver cancer is now among the top three causes of cancer death in 46 countries and among the top five causes of cancer death in nearly 100 countries, including several high-income countries.
Liver cancer incidence and mortality rates were highest in East Asia, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. Researchers predict that the annual number of new cases and deaths from liver cancer will increase more than 55% over the next 20 years, assuming current rates do not change. The projected increase in cases will increase the need for resources to manage the care of patients with liver cancer.
Researchers were alarmed to discover that the number of liver cancer cases and deaths will continue to increase year after year. They warn that to avoid this increase in cases and deaths, countries around the world must achieve at least a 3% annual decrease in liver cancer incidence and mortality rates through preventive measures.
These estimates provide a snapshot of the global burden of liver cancer and demonstrate the importance of improving and strengthening liver cancer prevention measures.
“We are at a turning point in liver cancer prevention, as successes in hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus control efforts will be reflected in liver cancer rates for decades to come.” ” noted Dr. Soerjomataram. "These efforts must be sustained and strengthened, especially given the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to certain hepatitis B and C virus control efforts."
The authors call on public health officials to prepare for the expected increase in demand for resources to manage the care of liver cancer patients along the cancer pathway, including improved access to palliative care due to the expected increasing number of patients with liver cancer, and reinforce current liver cancer prevention measures, such as immunization, testing and treatment for hepatitis B virus; population-wide testing and treatment for hepatitis C virus infection; reduction of alcohol consumption in the population; and curb the increase in the prevalence of diabetes and obesity.
“The number of people diagnosed with or dying from liver cancer each year could increase by almost 500,000 cases or deaths by 2040 unless we achieve a substantial decrease in liver cancer rates through primary prevention.” concluded Dr. Soerjomataram.
