Efforts to prevent and treat liver cancer are showing measurable results, according to a new study from Cedars-Sinai Cancer published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Researchers report declines in new liver cancer cases and narrowing survival gaps among racial groups.
“We found that liver cancer rates in the U.S. have begun to decline after many years of increase, and deaths from liver cancer have stabilized,” said Ju Dong Yang, MD, medical director of the Liver Cancer Program at Cedars-Sinai and senior author of the study.
The study also noted improvements in patient outcomes. Younger patients and those with advanced disease are living longer, partly due to new therapies. Differences in survival rates between Black and white patients have nearly disappeared, suggesting that better access to care and medical advances are helping reduce long-standing racial disparities.
Researchers analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry, examining newly diagnosed liver cancer cases, tumor stages, treatment trends, and survival rates in the U.S. over the past two decades.
Despite these gains, the study found that early detection and curative treatment rates dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic. Investigators emphasized the need to strengthen screening and access to care during periods of healthcare disruption.
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