{"id":1168,"date":"2016-08-18T14:26:38","date_gmt":"2016-08-18T21:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/11-answers-to-tough-questions-about-liver-cancer\/"},"modified":"2023-11-25T01:12:51","modified_gmt":"2023-11-25T09:12:51","slug":"11-answers-to-tough-questions-about-liver-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/11-answers-to-tough-questions-about-liver-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"11 answers to tough questions about liver cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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\n\n \n Press Release<\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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11 answers to tough questions about liver cancer<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n \u00a0Zen Vuong<\/span>\n \n August 18, 2016<\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n \n
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Liver cancer rates increased by 33 percent among white men between 2005 and 2012.<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n \n \n \n\n<\/div>\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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In the past four decades, liver cancer rates have more than doubled among non-Asians living in Los Angeles County, according to a recently released report card administered by USC.
\nThe increase is also reflected among the county\u2019s Asian-Americans.
\nFor some perspective, in the seven years between 2005 and 2012, liver cancer rates increased by 33 percent among white men and by 21 percent among Latino men. The increase was more modest with women in these groups \u2014 partially because liver cancer is more common in men.
\nWhile Vietnamese are the most likely ethnic group to be diagnosed with the disease, between 2005 and 2012, liver cancer rates actually dropped. The decrease was 1.3 percent among Vietnamese men and 8.7 percent for Vietnamese women.
\nThe data comes from\u00a0Cancer in Los Angeles County: Trends by Race\/Ethnicity 1976-2012<\/em><\/a>. Released on Aug. 15, the book is based on all cancers diagnosed among Los Angeles County residents over the past 37 years \u2014 more than 1.3 million cases.
\nEach year about 16,000 men and 8,000 women die from liver cancer in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/p>\n

\"Anthony
Anthony El-Khoueiry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Anthony El-Khoueiry, MD<\/strong><\/a>, medical director of the Clinical Investigations Support Office at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and an associate professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, is known nationwide for his clinical research on liver cancer. He answers some important questions about the disease.<\/p>\n

Why do men tend to have higher liver cancer rates than women?<\/h3>\n

There is no clear answer. Scientists are looking at the role of hormones. One hypothesis is that estrogen has a protective effect on women, especially in the premenopausal years, but that alone cannot explain everything. Some studies in laboratory animals also suggest that androgen male hormones may contribute to the risk of liver cancer.<\/p>\n

Long-term alcohol abuse increases the risk of liver cancer. At what consumption level does alcohol become a serious risk factor?<\/h3>\n

Hepatologists usually say an average of three alcoholic drinks a day or higher puts people at high risk for cirrhosis, where healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue. Cirrhosis could lead to liver cancer.<\/p>\n

Should people who have liver cancer abstain from alcoholic beverages?<\/h3>\n

This is a poorly studied area. Continuing alcohol consumption may not impact the behavior of the cancer itself; however, it could negatively impact underlying liver function, which could in turn prevent oncologists from being able to treat tumors properly. It would be best to discontinue alcohol consumption if one has liver cancer in order to minimize the ongoing insult to the liver and prevent added pressure on the already compromised liver function.<\/p>\n

What is causing the drastic increase of liver cancer cases?<\/h3>\n

Scientists believe hepatitis C and obesity, along with diabetes, are the main causes for the increasing rates of liver cancer. Obesity and metabolic syndrome \u2014 characterized by abdominal obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol \u2014 are established risk factors of liver cancer. Metabolic syndrome could lead to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (inflammation in the liver along with fat deposition), which can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
\nThese are relatively recent observations, so therapeutic interventions to lower liver cancer risk have not been fully established. One could, of course, follow common sense: lower weight, have a healthy diet, exercise regularly to prevent metabolic syndrome.<\/p>\n

What preventive measures can be taken?<\/h3>\n

The risk factors for liver cancer are alcohol, hepatitis B and C, autoimmune hepatitis or any continuous inflammation of the liver that leads to cirrhosis.<\/p>\n