Studies on liver cancer: evolution and perspectives

Great changes have taken place in the studies on liver cancer over the past 50 years. The main evolution and perspectives are reviewed as follows:(1)Infections with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus, environmental factors, lifestyle, and metabolic, endocrine, and hereditary factors have become the high -- risk factor for liver cancer, so the preventive measures should be adjusted.(2) The research data from the USA, Italy, and the author's institute showed that early diagnosis and early treatment are the main contributors to improved prognosis of liver cancer, and they remain the important means for improving treatment outcome.(3) Conservative therapy is being transformed, and molecular targeted therapy is a direction in the future; "tumor -- killing + tumor -- killing" combination therapy still holds promise for application, while "tumor -- killing + rehabilitation" modality is worth more attention.(4) The concept of cancer metastasis has been updated. (5) Intervention of the adverse effects of tumor -- killing therapy is an easy way to improve treatment outcome.