Liver cancer, otherwise known as hepatocellular carcinoma is a common type of liver cancer. Usually, Liver cancer is discovered at an advanced stage, and it needs effective treatment to overcome it. Even though Surgical resection and liver transplantation are considered a golden standard treatment for liver cancer, they need some adjuvant treatment to improve the survival rate. This article helps us understand various adjuvant therapy available for liver cancer treatment.

Liver Cancer

Your liver is placed on the right side of your abdomen, which is crucial in removing the toxic substance from your body. When cancer cells develop in the liver tissue, it results in liver cancer. Keep reading to learn more about liver cancer!

Type Of Liver Cancer 

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
• Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC)
• Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer)
• Angiosarcoma
• Hepatoblastoma

Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Causes

Liver cancer may have the following symptoms, which are given below:

Symptoms

1. Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
2. Abdominal pain and discomfort
3. Unexplained weight loss
4. Fatigue and weakness
5. Loss of appetite
6. Swelling in the abdomen
7. Nausea and vomiting
8. Enlarged liver or spleen

Risk Factors

1. Chronic Hepatitis Infection: Prolonged hepatitis B or C infections leads to liver cancer.
2. Cirrhosis: Cirrhosis is the long-term effect that is caused by the consumption of alcohol and viral hepatitis. The cirrhosis can increase the risk of liver cancer.
3. Family History: Family history may increase individuals' risk of liver cancer.
4. Exposure to toxins: Aflatoxin-containing contaminated food and some industrial pollutants may be the cause.
5. Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Excessive consumption of alcohol leads to damage to the liver, which in turn causes liver cancer. 
6. Obesity: Obesity can increase the risk of liver cancer in patients who are overweight. 
7. Diabetes: Diabetes can increase the risk of liver cancer in patients who have a high glycemic index. 

Causes

The causes of liver cancer can be related to various factors that may lead to primary liver cancer. However, the cause of secondary liver cancer is unknown.

Adjuvant Therapy

Adjuvant therapy is a therapy usually given after the primary treatment (surgery or liver transplantation) to decrease the recurrence of liver cancer.

 Adjuvant therapy aims to increase the overall survival rate of the liver cancer patient. The following are some essential components of adjuvant therapy for liver cancer:

1. Thymosin Alpha 1 (Tα1): Thymosin Alpha 1 (Tα1) is an immunomodulatory peptide that has been a promising therapy for liver cancer treatment. It improves the immune response of the individuals, which helps to target and eliminate the cancer cells. Research has suggested that thymosin alpha 1 has a direct antitumor effect on cancer cells and also helps to improve the effect of other therapies (chemotherapies).
2. Chemotherapy: Adjuvant chemotherapy removes remaining cancer cells after the surgery. It is often recommended for advanced liver cancer patients or used to reduce the recurrence of liver cancer. Adjuvant therapy may also be beneficial for medications like sorafenib and lenvatinib, which are approved for the treatment of advanced liver cancer.
3. Targeted therapies: Target therapy is a special kind of drug that effectively prevents the growth of cancer cells. Drugs like regorafenib and sorafenib are effectively treating liver cancer.
4. Radiotherapy: Adjuvant radiotherapy is given to patients after surgery to reduce the recurrence. 
5. Immunotherapy: Immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, are a possible liver cancer treatment. Though they are more commonly employed in advanced cases, current research explores their potential as adjuvant medications to boost immune systems' ability to fight cancer.
6. Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE): A locoregional treatment called transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combines chemotherapy with embolization (blood vessel blockage). It is occasionally used as adjuvant therapy to target any residual cancer tissue in the liver following surgery or other treatments.

Conclusion

Liver cancer is a serious disorder that often results in a late-stage diagnosis and a high fatality rate. Adjuvant therapy plays a critical role in improving patient outcomes by targeting residual cancer cells, decreasing the risk of recurrence, and increasing the overall survival rate. There is hope for better outcomes since new medicines seem to be beneficial in enhancing the body's immune response against liver cancer. It is essential to recognize the warning symptoms, causes, and indicators of liver cancer in order to get early treatment. As long as studies into adjuvant medications are carried out, there are plenty of grounds to be optimistic about the treatment of liver cancer in the future.