A study conducted by scientists from the American Cedars-Sinai Oncology Center revealed a new method that may help extend the lives of people with liver cancer in the advanced stages of the disease.
The results of a study conducted by scientists, which included an analysis of data from more than 4,300 liver cancer patients, showed that people with advanced liver cancer can live much longer if they undergo a liver transplant or surgically remove the tumor after receiving immunotherapy.
The study showed that immunotherapy can shrink the size of tumors, but it does not cure the disease completely. However, if this shrinkage leads to the possibility of performing a liver transplant or removing the tumor, the overall risk of death decreases by 85% compared to patients who receive immunotherapy only.
Scientists pointed out that despite the effectiveness of these operations, only about 3% of patients who receive immunotherapy are directed to undergo surgical operations later, often in major academic centers.
Dr. Jiu Dong Yang, author of the study, said, “Not undergoing liver transplantation or surgery in advanced cases is a loss of the opportunity for complete treatment, as many patients do not die from the tumor itself, but rather from associated liver diseases that can be treated through liver transplantation.”
It is noteworthy that advanced liver cancer is a stage in which the cancer reaches the liver and other organs, and causes symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, extreme fatigue, jaundice, and abdominal swelling due to fluid accumulation. Treatment at this stage is often done with options that include targeted medications, immunotherapy, or topical chemotherapy, with a focus on improving quality of life.