Liver Cancer – Global Clinical Trial Landscape - Focus On Asia Pacific

Liver cancer, specifically hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), ranks as the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide in 2020. It accounted for approximately 90% of all liver cancer cases globally. Liver cancer posed a significant threat to individuals aged 30 to 69, causing over 530,000 premature deaths in 2020, making it the second most common cause of early cancer-related mortality. Men faced nearly three times higher risk of diagnosis (male: female ASR ratio ranged from 1.2 to 3.6). In 2020, there were 632,320 male liver cancer diagnoses compared to 273,357 female cases.

According to GLOBOCAN, in 2020 there were over 900,000 new liver cancer cases reported and over 800,000 deaths globally. Incidence and mortality age-standardized rates (ASRs) were 9.5 and 8.7 per 100,000 people, respectively. Asia contributed to over 70% of global liver cancer cases in 2020, with Eastern Asia, representing more than a fifth of the world's population, accounting for 54% of both cases and deaths. Notably, China alone contributed to nearly 45% of worldwide liver cancer cases and 47% of deaths. In Taiwan, HCC had the fifth-highest incidence rate (47.05 per 100,000 person-years) in 2016. In Hong Kong, liver cancer was the fifth most prevalent cancer, constituting 5.1% of new cancer cases in 2020. Aflatoxin exposure was predicted to drive liver cancer incidence in Southeast Asia and China, particularly in association with HBV infection.

Europe reported the third-highest incidence and prevalence rates, with 87,630 and 78,415 cases, respectively. Southern and Western Europe had a 3:3 male-to-female incidence ratio and the highest mortality ratio globally (3:2 and 3:1, respectively). Excessive alcohol consumption contributed to an estimated 22% of global liver cancer cases in 2020, particularly in Europe and North America. In the US, liver cancer incidence rates have tripled, and mortality rates have doubled since 1980. The American Cancer Society projected over 40,000 new liver cancer cases in 2023, with over 29,000 expected deaths.

Globally, predictions suggest over 1 million new liver cancer cases and deaths by 2040, with a 55.0% annual increase in incidence between 2020 and 2040. Unearth how health officials are preparing to meet the rising demand for resources, emphasizing effective management throughout the cancer pathway, including improved access to palliative care.